Odisha braces for likely cyclonic storm

Bhubaneswar, Oct 7: Over half of Odisha has been put on high alert for a likely cyclonic storm, the authorities said Tuesday.

A low pressure area is taking the shape of a depression near the Andaman coast, following which the Odisha government Tuesday asked the collectors of 16 districts to remain on high alert to face the likely cyclonic storm.

The office of Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) directed the collectors of Baleswar, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khordha, Nayagarh, Gajapati, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Malkangiri and Koraput districts to be vigilant in view of the possibility of a cyclonic storm hitting the Odisha coast.

The department also asked the Odisha State Disaster Management Force and fire department to be prepared for relief and rescue operation in the districts likely to be affected in the cyclonic storm. Odisha has 30 districts.

The collectors were asked to direct all district officials and employees and call up those who are on leave to remain present at the district headquarters during the period, said Deputy Relief Commissioner Pravat Mohapatra.

The weather office warned that the low pressure formed over Andaman sea has turned into a depression which is located 1,380 km south-east of Gopalpur.

"The depression will move in a west-northwesterly direction and intensify into a deep depression within next 24 hours," the bulletin of weather forecasting department said.

IANS