A flooded street in Bhubaneswar following a spell of rain Friday.
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: Cyclonic storm ‘Roanu’ over Bay of Bengal moved east-northeastwards at a speed of 40 km per hour Friday afternoon and lay centred over northwest Bay of Bengal about 70 km south-southwest of Paradip and 70 km southeast of Puri.
“The system is likely to move east-northeastwards skirting the Orissa- West Bengal coast and cross the south Bangladesh coast between Khepupara and Cox’s Bazar, close to Chittagong, Saturday evening as a cyclonic storm,” said a India Meteorological Department bulletin.
Heavy rainfall is likely to occur in coastal Orissa in the next 24 hours. Winds of speeds reaching 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph are very likely to prevail along and off the Orissa-West Bengal coast during next 24 hours, according to the IMD bulletin.
“Under the influence of the cyclone, coastal parts of the state would experience heavy rainfall,” said Sarat Chandra Sahu, the director of Bhubaneswar Metrological Centre.
Rain and thundershowers lashed many places in Ganjam, Khurda, Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur and Balasore, disrupting normal life.
Continuous rain also disrupted life in the capital. The rain started early morning Friday and continued till late evening. As much as 29.1 mm of rain was recorded in the capital. Puri recorded 98 mm of rain, Paradip 96 mm, Chandbali 63, Balasore 52 mm and Cuttack 31.8 mm.
The Met office predicted heavy to very heavy rain at a few places over coastal districts and one or two places in the interior pockets during next 48 hours.
The distant warning signal Number II (DW-II) was replaced by the Local Cautionary Signal Number Three (LC-III) at all ports in the state.
Gusty surface wind from the southeasterly direction would prevail along the south Orissa coast with speeds of 60-70 kmph and gusting to 80 kmph and along the north Orissa coast with speeds of 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph.
The sea is likely to be rough to very rough along and off the Orissa coast. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea, the Met office said.
The state government has already issued alert in at least 12 districts in the coastal, southern and northern regions, asking authorities to prepare for any eventuality.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has directed all departments to stay alert to face any eventuality that may arise because of the cyclone.
“Collectors have been asked to be alert to deal with any untoward situation. They have been asked to keep all multipurpose cyclone centres and temporary centres in a state of readiness,” revenue and disaster management secretary Mona Sharma said.
