Odisha, Andhra Pradesh coast likely to be hit by cyclone tonight, warns IMD

Bhubaneshwar/New Delhi: The coastal regions of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh will be hit by a cyclone tonight, the Indian Meteorological Department has said. A deep depression moving at a speed of about 12 km/hour is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours. 

The depression, which was initially over west-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas, moved westward and intensified, IMD said in a bulletin. The centre is about 300 km east-southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha.

"It (the depression) is very likely to move west-northwestwards. It will cross south Odisha to north Andhra Pradesh coasts between Kalingapatnam and Puri. A cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 60 to 70 km/hour is likely", Mritunjay Mohapatra, Additional Director General of the IMD, said.

There will also be a storm surge of about 0.5 metres above astronomical tides and it is likely to flood low-lying areas of Vizianagaram, Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh and Gajapati, Ganjam, Khurda and Puri districts in Odisha at the time of landfall.

While heavy rainfall lashed several parts of Odisha since Wednesday, rain and thundershower are likely to occur in the next 48 hours and it will ease thereafter, the IMD said.

The depression caused heavy rainfall in Balasore, Bhadrak, Puri, Ganjam, Khordha, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara and Jajpur districts on Thursday, a Met official said.

Under the depression's impact, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at some places in Rayagada, Kalahandi, Koraput and Nabarangpur districts till Friday, an IMD bulletin said.

The low pressure system is also likely to trigger heavy to very heavy rainfall in districts like Balangir, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj on Friday, the Met centre here said.

In view of adverse weather conditions, the Met office advised fishermen not to venture into the sea till Friday. Meanwhile, danger signal no-3 has been hoisted in all ports of Odisha.

Special Relief Commissioner BP Sethi has already asked all concerned to remain alert, closely monitor the situation and keep the administrative machinery in full preparedness to meet any eventuality and ensure functioning of control room round-the-clock.