Odisha on alert over cyclone Lehar

Odisha Monday asked collectors of its 10 coastal and southern districts to remain alert as cyclone Lehar over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm.

The state also asked fishermen who are out at sea to return to safer places.

The storm hit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with a wind speed of over 110 km an hour Sunday, and lay centred about 1,070 km southeast of Gopalpur off the Odisha coast, officials said.

It would intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm and move west-north-westwards and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada around noon Nov 28, they added.

The wind speed could be 180 to 200 km an hour during landfall.

Although Odisha does not see major impact at this point, the Bhubaneswar Met office has asked the state government to take adequate measures against standing crops in the southern part of the state.

It has asked two state ports at Gopalpur and Paradip to keep hoisted distance warning signals and advised fishermen who are out at deep sea to return to safer places, S.C. Sahu, director of the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre, told IANS.

"We are keeping a close watch on the cyclone. We may issue necessary alerts to all coastal districts as and when required," state's special relief commissioner P.K. Mohapatra said.

"We won't have any problem from wind point of view. There may be some rainfall. Rainfall for one day is ok because it may dry up. If it continues for three days, it may affect standing crops," he told IANS.

The administrations of 10 coastal and southern districts have been told to remain prepared, he said.

The administration of Ganjam has been told to remain extra cautious as the region may witness heavy rain.

The latest warning has triggered fear among the coastal residents as the Bay of Bengal has already witnessed two cyclones since October.

Cyclone Helen hit the Andhra Pradesh coast Friday, forcing authorities to evacuate thousands of people. It has left six people dead and caused extensive damage to standing crops in that state.

Helen hit the coast weeks after tropical cyclone Phailin in the Bay of Bengal devastated lives and damaged properties in more than 17 districts in Odisha after making landfall Oct 12 night near Gopalpur in Ganjam district.

Phailin also caused extensive damage in Andhra Pradesh.