Bhubaneswar: With the very severe cyclonic storm Titli inching towards Gopalpur coast, the Odisha government expedited evacuation of people from low-lying areas of the coastal districts on Wednesday.
According to a latest release by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) at 10.30 pm, Titli, whose movement in the westcentral Bay of Bengal is being monitored by the coastal Doppler weather radars at Visakhapatnam, Gopalpur and Paradip, is moving at about 14 kmph and lay centred at about 200 km south-southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha) and 150 km south-east of Kalingapatnam (Andhra Pradesh). It is most likely to intensify slightly further and move north-northwestwards and cross Odisha and the adjoining north Andhra Pradesh coasts close to Gopalpur between 4 am and 8 am on Thursday. Thereafter, it will re-curve north-eastwards and move towards the Gangetic West Bengal across Odisha and weaken gradually.
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Under the impact of the cyclone, the wind speed is most likely increase to 140-150 kmph from Wednesday afternoon gusting up to 165 kmph from midnight onwards along and off the south Odisha and adjoining districts of north Andhra Pradesh coasts and 70-80 kmph gusting up to 90 kmph along and off the north Odisha and the remaining districts of north Andhra Pradesh coasts.
Acting on the advice of the IMD, Great Danger (GD) signals have been hoisted at the four ports in the state. While GD signal no-10 has been hoisted at Puri and Gopalpur, GD signal no-9 has been hosted at Paradip and Chandbali.
Taking stock of the situation, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik held a second review meeting at the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) here on Wednesday night.
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Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, he said about three lakhs people from low-lying areas in the vulnerable districts have been evacuated and efforts are on to evacuate more. “The state government has taken all possible precautionary measures and the situation is being closely monitored,” he added.
The Chief Minister directed the Water Resources Department to closely monitor the water level of the major reservoirs.
Among others, chief secretary, Aditya Prasad Padhi, Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan and Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi and senior officials of several departments were present.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister had also chaired a review meeting at the State Secretariat.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard personnel rescued 215 fishing boats from various locations of the Bay of Bengal in the afternoon. Efforts are on to locate other fishing boats.
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