Odisha districts alerted as cyclone Lehar approaches landfall

State govt put district authorities on alert

Hardly had the dust settled on the devastating Cyclone Phailin ravaging Odisha and Andhra Pradesh's coastal districts, the two states were bracing for another storm "Cyclone Lehar" to strike.

The state government today put district authorities on alert, especially those of 10 southern and coastal districts, as the severe cyclonic storm is expected to make a landfall between Kalingapatnam and Machhlipatnam of Andhra Pradesh at around noon of November 28. It is now stationed at about 1000-km south-east of Gopalpur, the weather office said. "We have alerted the Collectors of 10 districts of south and coastal region. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea," Special Relief Commissioner P K Mohapatra told reporters.

He, however, said that the storm, which is expected to pack a wind speed 200 kmph during landfall, will have less impact in Odisha than Andhra Pradesh.