Cyclonic storm Titli has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and is now centred at about 320 km southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha) and 270 km southeast of Kalingapatnam (Andhra Pradesh). As per the weather reports in Visakhapatnam, it is very likely to intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm during the next couple of hours and make landfall between Gopalpur in Odisha and Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh on October 11 morning, with wind speeds touching 145 kmph.
Thereafter, the cyclone is likely to re-curve in the northeast direction and might move towards Gangetic West Bengal across Odisha and weaken gradually. The speed of the system has triggered widespread rainfall along the coast of Odisha. Titli is likely to make a landfall at about 5.30 a.m. on October 11, Odisha Chief Secretary A.P. Padhi said.
Fishermen have been cautioned against venturing into the west-central and adjoining north Bay of Bengal, north Andhra Pradesh, Odisha,West Bengal coasts during next 48 hours. The coastal areas of Odisha and areas near Kalingapatnam may also witness tidal waves, said the weatherman.
Here are the updates:
Odisha Congress opens help cell
The Odisha unit of the Congress has opened a 24-hour emergency cell to help the people likely to be affected by Titli.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik, in a release, says the round-the-clock help cell will start functioning for a week from the evening of October 10 till October 16. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on October 9 urged the party’s State unit to extend help to those likely to be hit by the cyclone.
Mr. Patnaik said the people in the affected districts can contact on the mobile numbers — 7609852131, 8895203001, 9861011962, 7008799364, 9348161633, 8847858020, 9937948868 and 9237010939.
Don't go for panic buying, says Odisha Minister
Odisha’s Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister S.N. Patro has appealed to the people not to go for panic buying of essential commodities as Titli approaches the State’s coast. The people are not only buying extra provisions in view of the cyclone but also queuing up at petrol pumps to stock up on fuel.
The Minister says he has instructed all district collectors to keep a tab on the market as a section of traders are allegedly attempting to hoard essential items. The government will take stringent action against the hoarders, he says. “There are sufficient food materials in the state and the people should not go for panic buying in view of the cyclone,” Mr. Patro says. There is no need to procure more and people should purchase the required quantity of provisions, he adds.
Meanwhile, the apex body of traders in the State Odisha Byabasayi Mahasangha spokesman Sudhakar Panda says, “The market has enough food items in store. There should be no panic buying.”
Evacuation of people in five coastal districts
The Odisha government began evacuation of people in five coastal districts. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who took stock of the situation, asked the Collectors of Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, Kendrapara and Jagtsinghpur districts to go for an immediate evacuation of people in the low-laying areas in the coastal belt.
Chief Secretary A P Padhi said the district administration of Ganjam has already started evacuating people in Gopalpur area, where ‘Titli’ is likely to make a landfall at about 5.30 am Thursday. So far, about 1,000 people have been shifted to safer place, he said.
Padhi said immediate evacuation was being launched in view of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast of a tidal surge of about 1 m during landfall of cyclone ‘Titli’
(With inputs from PTI)