Cyclone Titli: IMD Issues Red Warning For 19 Districts Of Odisha

Bhubaneswar: With the very heavy cyclonic storm Titli changing its course after making the landfall in Palasa in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh early on Thursday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red warning for 19 districts in Odisha.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall will occur at a few places in the 19 districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Rayagada, Koraput, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Boudh, Balangir, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Khurda, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Angul, Bhadrak and Balasore when cyclone Titli will pass through the coastal belts of the state during its re-curve in the north-east direction, said an IMD release in the morning on Thursday.

The gale wind speed along the Odisha coast will reach 135-145 kmph gusting up to 160 kmph along and off south Odisha coast and adjoining south Odisha districts during the next three hours and gradually decrease to 80-90 kmph gusting up to 100 kmph in the evening. It will be 45-55 kmph with gusting up to 65 kmph from tonight till next morning.

The wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting up to 80 kmph will blow along and off the north Odisha coast during the next 12 hours and decrease to 45-55 kmph gusting up to 65 kmph in the next 24 hours. Besides, squally wind speed of 50-60 kmph gusting up to 70 kmph will blow over the adjoining districts of north coastal Odisha from Thursday afternoon for subsequent 12 hours.

The sea condition will be extremely rough over the westcentral and north Bay of Bengal and along and off the south Odisha coast during the next six hours. It will become very high to high along and off the south Odisha coast for subsequent 12 hours and gradually improve after October 12, the release added.

During the passing of the cyclonic storm along the Odisha coast, the tidal surge will be about 0.5 metre above the astronomical tide, which may inundate low-lying areas of Ganjam, Khurda and Puri districts.

Also Read: Cyclone Titli Makes Landfall In Odisha

The cyclonic storm will cause damage in the districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Khurda, Nayagarh and Puri districts. There will be destruction of thatched houses and extensive damage to kutcha houses and some damage to pucca houses. Besides, there is a possibility of bending and uprooting of power and communication poles, breaking of tree branches and uprooting of large avenue trees, flooding of escape routes, minor disruption of railway tracks, widespread damage to the standing crops, plantations, orchards, falling of green coconuts and tearing of palm fronds and blowing down of bushy trees.

The IMD has advised the state government to suspend fishing operations and ask people to remain indoors.

This apart, fishermen are advised not to venture into sea along and off Odisha Coast and Central and north Bay of Bengal till October 12.

The IMD has also advised the government to hoist Great Danger (GD) Signal No 10 at Gopalpur and Puri ports and DG-9 at Paradip and Chandbali ports.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik held another review meeting at the State Secretariat here to discuss the post-cyclone situation in Ganjam and Gajapati districts.

Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi said compared to the Gajapati district where the cyclone had cause maximum damage, there was minor damage in the Ganjam district as informed by the district collector.

Talking about the damage in Gajapati district, Padhi said that the cyclone had led to extensive damage to the road and the power grids. “Considering the dimension of the damage, two more NDRF teams have been sent to the district to expedite relief and rescue operations,” he added.

Prior to the meeting, Padhi had a video conferencing with the district collectors and asked them to submit a preliminary report on the extent of the damage.