Cyclone won’t make landfall in Odisha but move parallel to coast: IMD
Bureau,Odishabarta
Bhubaneswar: In a big relief to the people and administration, the IMD on Saturday announced that the cyclonic storm brewing over the Bay of Bengal will not make landfall in either Odisha or Andhra Pradesh but will move parallel to the coast.
It will recurve north-northeastwards and move towards northwest Bay of Bengal after nearing the North Andhra-Odisha coast, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said. “The well-marked low pressure area intensified into a depression and is now moving towards the coast in the northwestwards direction. It will continue to move in that direction till May 10 evening, and thereafter recurve in the sea north-northeastwards and move parallel to the coast,” Mohapatra said.
He said sea conditions near Odisha coast will become rough on May 9 and rougher on May 10. The wind speed in the sea will increase to 80-90 kmph on May 10, he said. “In the coastal areas of Odisha, the wind speed will be around 40-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph. The maximum wind speed will be 50-60 kmph. The windy conditions will prevail till May 11 and reduce thereafter,” he said.
Under its impact, Odisha’s coastal districts such as Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur and Puri will receive light to moderate rainfall after May 10 evening, he added.
According to IMD’s special bulletin, light to moderate rainfall is very likely to occur at many places in coastal Odisha on May 10 evening. Heavy rainfall (7-11 cm) is very likely to occur at one or two places in Gajapati, Ganjam and Puri. The following day, heavy rain will lash one or two places in Ganjam, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the deep sea on May 9, 10 and 11.
Arrangements in place to evacuate people
State Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Kumar Jena said arrangements have been made to evacuate altogether 7.5 lakh people in 18 districts if any emergency situation arises out of the impending cyclonic storm. On the deployment of response teams, the SRC said the personnel have been kept in readiness and a decision on their deployment will be taken after a clear picture emerges.
“While some fishermen have started returning from the sea, we are hopeful to bring them back by Sunday afternoon,” he said. The SRC said that farmers were advised to take necessary measures to save their crops during the rain.
Director General of Fire Service, S K Upadhyay, said the department is all prepared for rescue and relief operations with the latest equipment in the wake of a cyclone.
Source:IMD
