BHUBANESWAR:
National Emergency Response Centre (NERC) under the ministry of
home affairs on Monday asked Odisha government for a likely cyclonic storm over the southeast Bay of Bengal. Issuing an advisory to the chief secretary, the NERC has asked to remain alert for
pre-cyclone watch over north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast.
“The well-marked
low pressure area is likely to intensify further into a deep depression during next 24 hours and into a cyclonic storm during the subsequent 24 hours. It is very likely to move northwestwards towards Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh coast during next 72 hours,” the advisory said.
It added that the low-pressure area has concentrated into a depression and lay centred at about 720 km south-southwest of Gopalpur and 690 km southwest of Kalingapatnam on October 8 morning.
In view of the above condition, the NERC advised the state government to keep a close watch, monitor the situation regularly and take appropriate precautionary measures. It has also asked to alert district authorities accordingly.
The state relief commissioner (SRC)
Bishnupada Sethi said the state government is alert and ready to face any emergency. “We are already in touch with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). The state government will issue alert to districts well in advance and is ready with all preparedness,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, IMD’s Bhubaneswar centre issued red warning of heavy to very heavy rain likely to occur at a few places with extremely heavy rain over districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada on October 10 and 11.
“The depression is likely to concentrate into a deep depression and trigger heavy rainfall across Odisha on October 10 and October 11,” said director of IMD’s Bhubaneswar centre, H R Biswas. He also warned of squally wind with speed reaching 45-55 kmph and gusting to 65 kmph likely over deep sea areas and along Odisha coast during Ocrober 8 to 10. It is very likely to increase gradually becoming 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph from October 10th evening onwards along and off south Odisha and adjoining districts of north Andhra Pradesh coasts and 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph along and off north Odisha, West Bengal and remaining districts of north Andhra Pradesh coasts.
Sea condition is likely to be very rough during the next 24 hours during October 9 to 11 and fishermen are advised not to venture into deep sea areas during these days. Those who are out in deep sea areas are advised to return to the coast by Monday night.
Distance cautionary signal no-1 has been hoisted in all ports of Odisha.