Odisha cyclone threat: MeT Dept. says coastal areas may witness heavy rains

The director of Odisha's Meteorological Department, Sarat Chandra Sahu, on Wednesday said that although there is no immediate effect in the state vis-a-vis the cyclone threat but it might witness heavy rainfall activity in the coastal areas from October 10 onwards.

The Meteorological (MeT) Department had yesterday released a warning for a cyclone developing over the Bay of Bengal.

Sahu also urged the people not to panic.

"At present, we have issued warning only to the port authorities of Paradip and Gopalpur. Other warning may be issued according to the situation and depending upon the distance from the coast," he said.

The state government has alerted sixteen districts including six coastal districts along with other adjoining ones.

"Yesterday the depression was intensified into deep one and remains same today as well. In last two hours it has moved into north-west direction and at present it is centered at about 1170 kilometers at south-east of Gopalpur region at 5.30 IST today," said Sahu.

"It is likely to move towards Andhra Pradesh on 12th of this month. The system is also likely to intensify into cyclonic storm in next 12 hours. There is no immediate effect in Odisha till 9th but from 10th onwards there might be rainfall activity in coastal areas," he added.

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

In October 2013, Cyclone Phailin - the fiercest storm that the nation witnessed in 14 years - had smashed into the coastline of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, flooded swathes of farmland and ripped apart tens of thousands of mud-and-thatch homes.