Bhubaneswar, Oct 24 The Odisha government on Saturday activated its disaster response and mitigation machinery as the well-marked low-pressure area intensified into a depression.
It is likely to take the shape of a severe cyclonic storm and make landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh by October 28 forenoon.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its latest bulletin, said the well-marked low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal concentrated into a depression and lay centred at 5.30 pm about 510 km north-northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), 820 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 910 km east-southeast of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh).
“It is very likely to move nearly southwards, intensify into a deep depression and then gradually re-curve west-northwestwards over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on October 25. Continuing to move in the same direction, it is very likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by October 26 morning, and into a severe cyclonic storm over west-central Bay of Bengal around the morning of October 27,” the national weather agency said.
“It is very likely to cross Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam as a very severe cyclonic storm with the maximum sustained wind speed of 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph by forenoon of October 28,” the IMD said.
A depression is a weather condition which is more intense than a low-pressure area but less severe than a cyclonic storm, a scientist at the IMD said.
Keeping in view the impending calamity, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the state’s preparedness and directed officials to prioritise public safety, evacuation and emergency response, stressing a zero-casualty objective.
He said the cyclone could affect Odisha, bringing heavy rainfall in southern and coastal districts along with gusty winds of 70-90 kmph.
Five districts — Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri — are likely to be the most affected, while significant rainfall is expected in other coastal districts, the chief minister said.
He directed authorities concerned to close schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in these five districts on October 28-29.
In other districts, collectors will decide on closing schools and colleges based on the evolving situation, Majhi said.
Asserting that Odisha has experience in handling such disasters, the chief minister asked officials to shift people from vulnerable areas to safer locations, with special emphasis on moving elderly persons, patients and pregnant women to health centres.
Majhi said rescue teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Fire Services have already been positioned in vulnerable places.
“Around 60 ODRAF teams and 17 NDRF teams have been deployed, while 225 fire service teams are on high alert,” he said.
Block-level officials were directed to ensure adequate stocks of anti-snake venom at health facilities in anticipation of possible snakebite cases during flooding and waterlogging, and to promptly restore electricity and road connectivity if power lines were disrupted.
The CM also advised farmers to harvest crops in advance as heavy rain and winds could damage them.
Ganjam District Collector Keerthi Vasan V said the administration has kept ready 100 cyclone centres and identified 1,000 temporary places for housing people in case of evacuation.
The Water Resources Department has been asked to constantly monitor the water level in reservoirs and rivers.
Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the state government has already taken all precautionary measures to tackle the adverse weather conditions.
He said all departments concerned have been asked to remain alert.
The government has already cancelled the leaves of all its employees in Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri and Khurda districts, he said.
“We have asked all 30 districts to remain alert. The collectors of 16 coastal and southern districts have been advised to take precautionary measures,” Pujari said.
The puja committees in Cuttack have been asked to immediately dismantle the pandals erected on the occasion of Durga Puja, the minister said.
Owners of large trawlers and vessels have also been alerted, while fishermen who have ventured into the deep sea have been advised to return to the coast immediately, Pujari said.
Meanwhile, the IMD issued a ‘red warning’ (take action), forecasting very heavy with isolated extremely heavy rainfall of over 20 cm for the southern districts of Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, and Ganjam on October 28.
The downpour will be accompanied by severe thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty surface winds reaching 60-70 kmph, it added.
(PTI News)
