Bhubaneswar: The Gajapati administration has declared holiday in all in all primary, upper primary schools and Anganwadi centres in the district on Wednesday in view of heavy rain forecast under the influence of severe cyclonic storm ‘Michaung’ over westcentral Bay of Bengal, which is inching closer to the coast.
In an official notification, the office of the collector and district magistrate, Gajapati wrote, “In view of possible heavy rainfall due to cyclonic storm Michaung over the Bay of Bengal, all the primary, upper primary, high school, and anganwadi centre shall remain closed on December 6 2023″.
Gajapati Collector, Smruti Ranjan Pradhan told the media that the decision was taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of students as the intensity of downpour is expected to be high. The school buildings will also be used for rehabilitating people if there is a need, he said, adding that one team of ODRF each will be sent to Raigad and Mohana.
While severe cyclonic storm is expected to make landfall close to Bapatla as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph around 11 am, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued yellow and orange warnings of heavy to very heavy rain for Odisha.
December 5
(Orange Warning)
Heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20 cm) very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam.
(Yellow Warning).
Heavy rainfall (7 to 11 cm) very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, and Puri
December 6
(Yellow Warning)
Heavy rainfall (7 to 11 cm) very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Nayagarh, Khurda, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada
While squally wind speed reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph has prevailed along and off Odisha coast of Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts since last evening, it is expected to gradually increase to 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph from Tuesday evening for subsequent 12 hours.
Also, strong surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph may prevail over Malkangiri, Koraput and Rayagada districts of Odisha on December 5.
Fishermen have been cautioned against venturing into the deep sea along and off the Odisha coast from December 4-6.
Earlier, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) preemptively cancelled 60 trains within its jurisdiction in anticipation of Cyclone Michaung’s landfall. Additionally, it has established a Crisis Management Cell to oversee the situation related to the severe cyclonic storm.
Helpline Numbers: Bhubaneswar: 0674 – 2301525, 2301626, 2303060.
Two flights from Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar to Chennai and Bengaluru have also been cancelled. “The morning flight to Chennai and one to Bengaluru have been cancelled due to unavailability of aircraft and some cascading effect of the cyclone. Other flight operations are regular from Bhubaneswar,” said Bhubaneswar airport director, Prasanna Pradhan.
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