Cyclonic Storm Bulbul To Trigger Heavy Rain In 8 Odisha Districts

Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its mid-day bulletin on Wednesday said that the cyclonic storm Bulbul will have a partial impact on Odisha with isolated heavy rainfall in eight districts.

According to the bulletin, the cyclonic storm ‘Bulbul’ over the east-central Bay of Bengal continued to move northwards with a speed of 15 kmph during the last six hours and lay centred over the east-central Bay of Bengal about 680 km south-south-east of Paradip, 780 km south-south-east of Sagar Islands  (West Bengal) and 810 km south-south-west of Khepupara (Bangladesh). It is very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours and then move north¬north-westwards towards West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts.

Under its influence, intense rainfall activity will begin from the evening of November 8, while heavy rainfall will occur at isolated places in Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Bhadrak districts on November 9.

On November 10, heavy rainfall will occur at isolated places in Cuttack, Jajpur and Mayurbhanj districts while heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts.

During the period, squally and strong wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting up to 65 kmph will blow from November 8 afternoon in Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore and Bhadrak districts. The wind speed will increase to 70-80 kmph gusting up to 90 kmph towards the evening of November 9 in Jagatsinghpur, Balasore and Bhadrak districts. However, the wind speed is likely to decrease from November 10.

The three coastal districts of Puri, Ganjam and Jajpur districts are likely to experience squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting up to 60 kmph on November 8 and 9, the bulletin added.

Meanwhile, the gale wind speed, which has reached 65-75 kmph gusting up to 85 kmph around the system centre over the east-central Bay of Bengal is very likely to increase to 85-95 kmph gusting up to 105 kmph by the morning on November 8. It will increase further to 120-130 kmph gusting up to 145 kmph over the North Bay of Bengal by the morning of November 9.

In view of the inclement weather, the IMD has advised total suspension of fishing operations from November 8 along the Odisha coast. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea along and off the Odisha coast and North Bay of Bengal from November 8 onwards till further notice and all those in deep sea have been advised to return to the coast by Thursday night. The fishermen have also been advised not to venture into deep sea area of east-central Bay of Bengal till November 9 and west-central and adjoining north-west Bay of Bengal till November 10.

Briefing mediapersons later in the day, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradip Jena said that going by the IMD forecast, there are possibilities of the uprooting of big trees and damage to kuchcha houses and electric poles. Besides, the standing crops will be damaged the heavy rain in the districts mentioned.

“The Agriculture Department in its advisory has asked the farmers to harvest their crops at the earliest and keep them protected from rain,” he added.

Stating that the NDRF and ODRAF teams have been deployed in the coastal districts, the SRC said that if necessary, the process of evacuation of people from the low-lying areas will be taken up.