BHUBANESWAR: A cyclonic storm is likely to hit the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal on Thursday after an existing system over the Bay of Bengal intensifies on Wednesday. State govt on Sunday said it is taking all steps to reduce the impact of the possible cyclone.
“A cyclonic circulation formed over north Andaman Sea on Sunday is likely to intensify into a lowpressure area in the next 12 hours.It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression by Oct 22 and into a cyclonic storm by Oct 23 over east-central Bay of Bengal. Thereafter, it is very likely to move northwestwards and reach northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha-West Bengal coasts by Oct 24 morning,” the IMD forecast said on Sunday.
Cyclone Dana formation
- A cyclonic circulation formed over Andaman Sea on Sunday
- Expected to become a low pressure area in the next 24 hours
- Likely to intensify into a cyclone by Oct 23
- Once it forms, the cyclone is expected to move towards Odisha-West Bengal coast
- Heavy rain between 20 and 30cm is likely at some places in Odisha from Oct 23 to 25
- Red alert of heavy rain issued for Puri, Khurda, Ganjam and Jagatsinghpur districts
- During landfall, the cyclone’s wind speed is likely to be 100- 120km/hour along Odisha coast
Heavy rain alert for 4 districts from Wednesday
IMD has asked fishermen out at sea to return to the coasts by Monday. If the system intensifies into a cyclone, it will be named ‘Dana’, given by Qatar in a list of names of tropical cyclones.
“A severe cyclonic storm is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal by Oct 23. It is expected to cause heavy to very rainfall between 20 cm and 30 cm in 24 hours in some coastal districts of Odisha. Wind speed reaching 100-120 km per hour is likely to commence when the cyclone crosses the coast. Rough sea condition may prevail on Oct 24 and 25. After the system intensifies from a a low-pressure into depression, its path, wind speed, intensity and place of landfall can be ascertained,” said IMD’s director general, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.
IMD has also issued a red alert for heavy rain in Puri, Khurda, Ganjam and Jagatsinghpur districts from Oct 23. Assuring full preparedness, revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari said, “The special relief commissioner is in touch with all district administrations and asked them to stay on alert. NDRF, ODRAF and fire services teams have been kept ready.”
A high-level meeting of senior officers, chaired by chief secretary Manoj Ahuja, was held on Sunday evening to review the situation. “Our top priority is zero casualty during a disaster. Administrative machinery of coastal districts likely to be affected have been kept on high alert and have been asked to keep cyclone shelters ready. Pregnant women who may deliver in the next 15 days in these districts would be shifted to hospitals by Oct 22,” said SRC Deoranjan Kumar Singh. He urged people not to panic.
(With inputs from Hrushikesh Mohanty in Berhampur and Ashis Senapati in Kendrapada)