Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday directed the collectors of 15 districts to stay on high alert after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued ‘red warning’ as the deep depression over the south-east Bay of Bengal, moving towards the south coast of the state, is most likely to take the shape of a cyclonic storm in the next 72 hours.
Talking to mediapersons here, deputy relief commissioner Pravat Mohapatra said since a possible flood threat cannot be ruled out with the IMD predicting extremely heavy rainfall in 15 districts, the collectors have been asked to take precautionary measures and keep the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel on high alert to take up relief and rescue operations.
“The collectors have been asked to keep the flood and cyclone shelters ready to accommodate people and make provisions to provide them with cooked food,” he added.
Mohapatra further said that the collectors of the five aforesaid districts have been asked to take necessary measures to evacuate the people living in the low-lying areas to safer places. For relief and rescue operations, 300 power boats have been kept in readiness in these districts.
He informed that the chief secretary will preside over a preparatory meeting in the afternoon to discuss the measures to be taken for the approaching cyclone.
Giving latest weather update to the media, duty officer of the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, Laxmidhar Mishra said the deep depression, which now lies at a distance of 560 km off the south-east of Gopalpur coast and 530 km off the Kalingapatnam coast in Andhra Pradesh, is gradually moving in the west-north-west direction at a speed of 12 kmph, and most likely turn into a cyclonic storm, named Titli, in the next 24 hours and cross between the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coast in the next 72 hours.
“Considering the intensity of the cyclonic storm, IMD has issued ‘yellow warning’ for Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri and Jagatsinghpur district, where isolated heavy rainfall is likely to occur from the evening on October 9, while on October 10, ‘red warning’ has been issued for the five districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Jagatsingpur and Khurda, where heavy to very heavy rainfall at few places with isolated extremely heavy rainfall is likely to occur,” he said.
Besides, ‘orange warning’ has been issued for the six districts of Khurda, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore, where isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall will occur, the same day. “Apart from this, the IMD has issued ‘red warning’ on October 11 for the 15 districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Boudh, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Khurda, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Bhadrak and Balasore,” Mishra added.
He further said that squally winds speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting up to 65 kmph is very likely to blow along and off the Odisha coast from Tuesday afternoon. The wind speed along and off the south Odisha coast will increase to 80-90 kmph, gusting up to 100 kmph, and 55-65 kmph, gusting up to 75 kmph, along and off the north Odisha coast from the evening of October 10.
“As the sea conditions will be rough to very rough over the central and adjoining north Bay of Bengal on October 9 and very rough to high tide on October 10 and 11, the fishermen are advised not to venture into sea along and off Odisha coast and central and north Bay of Bengal till October 12,” Mishra said, adding that the Distance Cautionary Signal No -I have been hoisted at all the ports in Odisha.
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