The Indian National Centre for Oceanic Information Services (INCOIS) and the Indian Met Department (IMD) in a joint bulletin on Tuesday evening called for total suspension of fishing operations, and urged fishermen not to venture into deep sea till October 11 while advising coastal hutment dwellers to move to safer places with the deep depression over Bay of Bengal intensifying into a cyclonic storm, christened Titli.
Caution notice
In the caution notice issued to all States on the East Coast, organisations of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said Titli lay centred over west central Bay of Bengal about 530 km south-east of Gopalpur in Odisha and 480km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
It is highly likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours and move west-northwestwards for some more time, then northwestwards and cross Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh coasts between Gopalpur and Kalingapatnam around October 11 morning, causing heavy rain.
Damage forecast
Damage to thatched huts/houses, power and communication lines due to breaking of branches and uprooting of trees, roads and crops has been forecast along with sea water inundation in low lying areas.
High waves in the range of 2.5-3.4 metres are forecast between 11.30 a.m. on October 10 and 11.30 p.m. on October 11 along the coast of Odisha from Gopalpur to Chandipur with surface current speeds varying between 68-221 cm/sec.
High waves in range of 3.0-4.4 metres are forecast up to 11.30 p.m. of October 11 along Andhra Pradesh coast from Dugarajapatnam to Baruva with surface current speeds varying between 88-213 cm/sec.
High waves in the range of 2.5-3.7 metres are forecast during 5.30 a.m. on October 10 to 11.30 p.m. of October 11 along the coast of West Bengal from Digha to Bakkhali with surface current speeds varying between 73-158 cm/sec.
Cyclone Luban
Meanwhile, another cyclonic storm, Luban, over Arabian Sea is also highly likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm.
Hence, fishermen have been warned not to venture into the deep sea areas of westcentral Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden at least till October 13.
Gale wind speed reaching 85-95 kmph gusting to 105 kmph is prevailing and could increase gradually to 135 kmph during October 10-12 and then decrease gradually over southwest Arabian Sea by October 13.