Odisha fishermen asked to return over Cyclone Madi

Odisha fishermen out at sea have been asked to return as Cyclone Madi over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm, an official here said Saturday.

The storm lay centred over southwest Bay of Bengal, about 975 km south of Gopalpur off Odisha coast, and about 500 km southeast of Chennai, an official of Bhubaneswar meterological centre told IANS.

It would intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm Sunday and move nearly northwards very slowly during next two days, then recurve north-northeastwards, he said.

Although the storm is unlikely to have any impact in Odisha, the Gopalpur and Paradip ports have been asked to hoist distance warning signals number two.

Fishermen who are out at deep sea have been advised to return to the coast and others not to venture into sea, he said.