[Watch] Cyclone May Pass Closest To Dhamra Coast, No Wind Threat To Odisha: SRC Pradeep Jena

Bhubaneswar: With a possible cyclonic storm ‘Sitrang’ brewing over Bay of Bengal, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Jena on Friday said that the closet the cyclone could pass along the Odisha coast is 200 km from Dhamra Coast.

Citing the India Meteorological Department (IMD) track forecast report, he further said that Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak and Balasore districts could experience a maximum wind speed of 50-60 km.  Though the cyclone will skirt Odisha coast, it is likely to trigger heavy rain in Odisha from Monday onwards. “Very heavy rain is likely in some coastal districts of the state on October 24,” he said.

The SRC urged the media not to air any sensational report related to the cyclone and added that the administration is fully prepared to tackle the situation. “There is no need to panic,” he added.

Jena also informed about his emergency meeting with ODRAF, NDRF, Fire Service, Navy, Coast Guard and district officials. As a precautionary measure, ODRAF, NDRF and Fire Service personnel will be deployed in districts likely to be affected by the storm to meet any eventuality, he said.

All departments and administrations of eight districts have been asked to remain alert, he said, urging fishermen to abide by the warning issued by the MeT office. The Agriculture department will also issue guidelines in this regard, he added.

In its special bulletin, the IMD said that the low pressure over north Andaman Sea and adjoining areas of south Andaman Sea and Southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to move west-northwestwards and concentrate into a depression over southeast and adjoining eastcentral Bay of Bengal on October and then moving northwestwards intensify further into a deep depression over eastcentral and adjoining southeast bay of Bengal on October 23. “Subsequently, it is very likely to recurve gradually northwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm over westcentral and adjoining eastcentral Bay of Bengal by October 24. Thereafter, it is likely to move north-northeastwards and reach near West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts on October 25, skirting Odisha coast,” it added.

It is likely to make landfall as a severe cyclonic storm on October 25 evening and attain a maximum sustained surface wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph.

Under the influence of the system, squally wind with speed reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is likely on October 23, 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph on October 24 and 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph on October 25 along and off Odisha coast.

AccuWeather International lead forecaster Jason Nicholls also tweeted that the outer bands of cyclonic storm ‘Sitrang’ may brush Odisha coast late on Sunday/Monday.

He further wrote: “Low-pressure area near the Andaman Islands should become a depression by Saturday, then can become cyclonic storm Sitrang by Monay night. A turn to north likely on Monday and can become a severe cyclonic storm before striking West Bengal or Bangladesh around Tuesday.”