Odisha put on high alert as cyclone Titli to hit Thursday
THE DEPRESSION IS EXPECTED TO TAKE
THE FORM OF A CYCLONIC STORM IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS TRIGGERING HEAVY RAINFALL AND STORMY WINDS IN ODISHA
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha government on Tuesday put five coastal districts on high alert with cyclone Titli expected to make landfall at about 5.30 am on Thursday, close to Gopalpur, about 170 kms from the state capital. Weather department has issued a warning that wind speed is expected to reach 125 km per hour.
Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi said collectors of Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara have been alerted on the possibility of heavy rainfall from Wednesday morning.
They have been asked to remain alert and make necessary arrangements to shift people living in low lying areas.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in a special bulletin on Tuesday said the depression that formed over south-east and adjoining eastcentral Bay of Bengal intensified into a deep depression as it moved further west-northwestwards with a speed of about 10 kmph. The depression is expected to take the form of a cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours triggering heavy rainfall and stormy winds in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
“It is very likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm in the next 24-hours and is expected to move west-north westwards for some more time and then north westwards and cross the coast between Gopalpur of Odisha and Kalingapatnam of adjoining north Andhra Pradesh around Thursday morning,” said HR Biswas, director, Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre .
Sethi said fishermen along the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh coast have been advised not to venture into the sea.
The government has also ordered closure of schools in Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri and Jagatsinghpur for two days from Wednesday.
He said around 300 motor boats have been arranged to assist in rescue operation over a possible flood situation on Wednesday and Thursday.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the ministry of earth sciences (MOES) on Tuesday advised fishermen to stay away from the sea on October10, 11 and 12. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has also warned of heavy to very heavy rain over gangetic West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and north coastal Andhra Pradesh. Gale wind (strong winds) speed reaching 110-120 kmph gusting at135 kmph is very likely over west central Arabian Sea. Squally winds reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is very likely to start off north Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal coast from October 9 night.
“It is very likely to increase gradually becoming 100-110 kmph gusting to 125 kmph from October 10 evening along and off south Odisha and adjoining districts of north Andhra Pradesh coasts,” the statement by MOES said.environment minister, Harsh Vardhan has directed all senior officials to monitor the developing situation and briefed officials on precautions.
Harsh Vardhan in a review meeting of cyclonic storm Titli on Tuesday said the situation is currently being monitored at the highest level.