Depression near Gopalpur turns cyclonic

Bhubaneswar, May 14: A deep depression over East Central Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm and lay centred over about 700 km East-South-East of Gopalpur coast. Met sources here said the system is likely to intensify further and move in a North-North-Easterly direction and cross south Bangladesh and adjoining North Arakan coast by tomorrow afternoon.

Under its impact rains and thundershowers are likely to occur at isolated places over Orissa in the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the distant cautionary signal number two had been hoisted at Gopalpur and Paradip port by the authority and the fishermen had been advised not to venture into the sea with strong surface wind from North Easterly direction speed reaching 45-55 kmph likely to prevail along and off North Orissa coast.

The sea condition will be moderate to rough, the Met office cautioned.

UNI