Odisha Cyclone Update: Deep Depression Now 70 Km From Puri, Officials In Temple Town Say All Measures Taken

Bhubaneswar: The remnants of Cyclone Jawad, which has fizzled into a deep depression, now lay centered about 70 km from Puri, India Meteorological Department (IMD) DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said on Sunday afternoon.

“After reaching the coast near Puri, the deep depression will continue to move in a north-northeastwards direction towards West Bengal. In the next six hours, it will further weaken into a depression and while moving along the West Bengal coast at night, it will become a well-marked low pressure,” Mohapatra told a local news channel.

“The deep depression over northwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal moved north-northeastwards at a speed of 18 kmph during the past six hours, and lay centered over northwest Bay of Bengal close to the Odisha coast about 70 km from Puri, 100 km from Gopalpur, 150 km from Paradip and 320 km from Vishakhapatnam,” the IMD said in its latest bulletin.

In Puri, it has been raining since Saturday night. The area near the Shri Jagannath Temple, Badadanda and the sea beach have been vacated as a precautionary measure.

Officials said that arrangements have been made to ensure no disruption in power supply at the Shri Jagannath Temple.

Residents of the temple town are relieved that the cyclone has weakened into a deep depression. But the administration has advised people to stay indoors as there is a possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall.

The authorities are ready with equipment to deal with water-logging.

Coastal districts have been receiving heavy to very heavy rainfall under the influence of the system.

As the remnants of Cyclone Jawad move towards the West Bengal coast later in the day, rainfall in the north coastal districts of the state will pick up, Mohapatra said.

Squally winds packing speeds of 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph are now prevailing over northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal. It would gradually decrease to 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph over northwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal by Sunday evening. It would decrease further to 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph over northwest Bay of Bengal by Sunday night, the IMD said.