Andaman Sea experiences deep depression, intensifies into cyclone

The Andaman Sea experienced a deep depression and converted into a cyclone early on Wednesday morning.

MeT officials said the system is centered at around 80 kilometers south east of Long Island in northern Andaman as of 5.30 a.m., and is expected to make a landfall shortly before noon.

Later, it is expected to drift towards northern Andhra Pradesh and the Odisha coast, where a landfall may take place on Sunday.

It is crossing the coast could herald the onset of the North East Monsoon, even as the South West Monsoon recedes.

Almost all parts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are receiving incessant rain since yesterday. Schools have been shut as a precautionary measure and the inter-island ferry service has been suspended.

There has been no loss of life so far.

Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has said the state government is fully prepared to deal with the potential after effects of the expected cyclone in coastal areas of the state.

The state government has cancelled leaves of its employees and put 16 coastal districts on alert besides asking Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and fire service personnel to be ready.

It also asked district authorities to open round-the-clock control room to co-ordinate with different departments.

The districts which have been alerted include Balasore, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Malkangiri and Koraput.