In Odisha, cyclone Phailin robs puja of its sheen

Cyclonic formation now lays 70 kms off Gopalpur in Bay of Bengal, is traveling at about 20 kms per hour

Durga Puja pandals in coastal Odisha wore a deserted look as the expected timeline for the landfall of severe cyclonic storm Phialin’s closes in.

 

The cyclonic formation now lays 70 kms from Gopalpur in Bay of Bengal and is traveling at a speed of about 20 km per hour towards the coast.

 

The storm will have a landfall between 6 pm and 8 pm near Gopalpur with an initial wind speed of about 210-240 kms per hour, according to Sarat Sahu, director, Indian Meteorological Department, Bhubaneswar centre.

 

Across the coastal region, where Durga Puja is usually celebrated with much fun and fete, heavy rains and winds forced people to remain indoors. Most markets and business establishments were shut in these regions.

 

 

Puja committees cancelled pre-arranged entertainment programmes and diverted the funds for relief purposes.

 

The footfall at puja pandals was low. “We are conducting only the minimum ritual formalities for the Goddess,” said Dilip Kumar Jena, assistant secretary, Jharapada Durga Puja Samiti.

 

All planned entertainment programmes are cancelled, he added.

 

Local Met Office has warned heavy rain falls in the coastal part of the state.

 

Heavy to very heavy rainall at a few places with isolated extremely heavy fall (≥ 25cm) would occur over districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Bhadrak and Kendrapara in coastal Odisha during next 48 hours and districts of interior Odisha from today afternoon for subsequent 48 hours.