Odisha braces for likely cyclonic storm

Over half of Odisha has been put on high alert for a possible cyclonic storm, the authorities said Tuesday.

Panic gripped people in coastal Odisha after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicated that low pressure formed over Tenasserim Coast and adjoining Andaman Sea has concentrated into a depression which is located 1,380 km south-east of Gopalpur.

"The depression will move in a west-northwesterly direction and intensify into a deep depression within next 24 hours and further intensify into a cyclonic storm thereafter," said an IMD bulletin.

The Odisha government Tuesday asked the collectors of 16 districts to remain on high alert to face the cyclonic storm if one develops.

The office of Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) directed the collectors of Baleswar, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khordha, Nayagarh, Gajapati, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Malkangiri and Koraput districts to be vigilant in view of the possibility of a cyclonic storm hitting the Odisha coast.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the government is well prepared for the possible cyclonic storm.

"The government is prepared for the possible cyclonic storm," said Patnaik after returning from New Delhi Tuesday afternoon.

The Odisha State Disaster Management Force and fire department have also been directed to be ready for relief and rescue operation in the districts likely to be affected in the cyclonic storm. Odisha has 30 districts.

The collectors were asked to direct all district officials and employees and call up those who are on leave to remain present at the district headquarters during the period, said Deputy Relief Commissioner Pravat Mohapatra.

The weather office warned that the low pressure formed over Andaman sea has turned into a depression which is located 1,380 km south-east of Gopalpur.

"The depression will move in a west-northwesterly direction and intensify into a deep depression within the next 24 hours," the weather forecasting department bulletin said.