Several districts, particularly those in south Odisha, have been put on alert because of approaching severe cyclonic storm Lehar, that is expected to have landfall near Kakinada in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh on November 28th.
There is no threat to Odisha as far as the gust of wind accompanying the storm is concerned. But there may be rainfall in some districts”, said PK Mohapatra, state relief commissioner.
The places in south Odisha likely to receive heavy rainfall on account of the cyclone are the undivided districts of Koraput, Kandhamal, Gajapati and Ganjam.
Fishermen, who are in the deep sea, are advised to return to the coast immediately.
The sea will be rough to very rough after 24 hours as the severe cyclonic storm Lehar will intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm, according to the met office.
The storm over southeast Bay of Bengal has moved westwards with a speed of 15 km per hour during past six hours and lay centred this morning over southeast Bay of Bengal about 1100 km southeast of Gopalpur, where the very severe storm Phailin made a land fall on October 12.
The system would intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm and would move west-northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machillipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada around November 28 noon, read the latest bulletin from the met office in Bhubaneswar.The speed of the wind will be more than that of Helen which hit Andhra Pradesh recently, the officials maintained.
Squally winds, with speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph, would commence along and off Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts from 27th evening. It would increase in intensity with gale wind speed reaching 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph at the time of landfall.
Paradip port in Jagatsingpur district and Gopalpur port in Ganjam district have been asked to hoist the Distant Warning Signal Number Two (DW-II).
Phailin had caused devastation in at least 17 districts in the state, especially in the Ganjam district.
The storm had claimed 21 lives in Odisha and caused extensive damage in Andhra Pradesh.
The local met centre has urged the state government to take necessary steps to protect the standing crops in the field in south and western Odisha.
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