Cyclonic storm spares Orissa, likely to cross Sagar Island

Bhubaneswar, Nov 14 (UNI) Orissa today heaved a sigh of relief as a severe cyclonic storm, which was expected to hit the coast by tomorrow, changed its course and is likely to cross the West Bengal-Bangladesh border by November 16.

Local Met office sources here said the cyclonic storm, that lay centered about 700 km southeast of Paradeep over South East Bay of Bengal today, intensified further and moved in a northerly direction.

It is likely to cross the West Bengal-Bangladesh border near Sagar Island by November 16 morning.

However, the weather office predicted heavy rains at some places over Orissa during the next 48 hours under its impact.

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting here to face any eventuality and directed the state chief secretary to monitor the situation and take necessary action.

The state government had yesterday alerted the Army, Air Force and kept all administrative machinery ready to face any eventuality following the cyclonic storm moving towards the north westerly direction.

The District Collectors of 14 districts were alerted and each of the six coastal districs were sanctioned Rs 10 lakh to make arrangements.

Most of the cyclone shelter centres were kept ready and officials were asked not to leave the headquarters in the coastal areas.

UNI