Cyclone alert! East coast braces for landfall with wind speeds likely to be 90 kmph; NDRF keeps vigil

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Cyclone Alert in east coast: A low-pressure area formed over the South Andaman Sea on Friday is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm and reach near the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha shores early next week, causing heavy rains in the east coast states. The low-pressure area over the South Andaman Sea and the adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal is very likely to move north-westwards and intensify into a depression by Saturday, the weather office said. The system is likely to further intensify into a cyclonic storm by Sunday evening. The weather office also warned of thunderstorms with lightning and heavy rainfall over the districts of Gangetic West Bengal between Tuesday and Friday next week in view of the likely formation of the cyclonic storm.

Another summer cyclone 

The Odisha government said disaster response and fire services teams were kept on standby following the forecast. The region witnessed cyclones in the last three summers -- Yaas in 2021, Amphan in 2020 and Fani in 2019. 

Likely to reach coast on May 10 

The low-pressure area is very likely to move north-westwards and intensify into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal, and into a cyclonic storm over the east-central Bay of Bengal, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director-General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said. It is likely to reach the coast on May 10, he said. "We have not yet made any forecast on where it will make landfall. We have also not mentioned anything on the possible wind speed during the landfall," Mohapatra said. Odisha Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Jena said, “We have requisitioned 17 teams of NDRF (National Disaster Response Force), 20 teams of ODRAF (Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force) and 175 teams of Fire personnel.” This apart, the NDRF authorities have been requested to reserve 10 more teams for any emergency. Jena said the Indian Navy and Coast Guard have been put on alert to maintain a vigil on the movement of fishermen in the sea during the possible calamity. Mohapatra said, "The IMD can give details of the cyclone, its wind speed, landfall location only after the formation of depression on May 7. As the sea condition may be rough from May 9, fishermen should not venture out." "We have estimated that the wind speed of the cyclonic storm will remain at 80-90 kmph in the sea," he added.

Umashankar Das, Senior Scientist, IMD said that "Jagatsinghpur, Ganjam, and Khordha districts will be affected by heavy rainfall while light to moderate rainfall will occur over coastal parts of Odisha." From May 10 wind speeds over Odisha, North Andhra Pradesh will be 70-80 kmph. Fishermen advised not to venture into the sea due to rough conditions. Odisha, North Andhra and west-central Bay of Bengal will be affected," he added. 

18 districts on alert

Odisha’s Director-General of Fire Services SK Upadhaya said all leaves of fire services personnel have been cancelled. SRC Jena, after holding a video conference with the collectors of 18 districts, said Odisha is prepared to face any eventuality. The collectors have been put on alert and asked to take all measures required. Jena said that the energy department and telecom service providers have been asked to take up restoration work immediately if their towers are affected by the possible cyclone. He said people should refrain from coming out of their houses during the cyclone. “It is noticed that people usually come out of their houses to collect mangoes, coconuts and other fruits during a cyclone. It could cause danger to one’s life,” he said. 

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