Bhubaneswar: The state government took necessary steps on Friday to tackle the impact of a depression over the Bay of Bengal, which is likely to cross the south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coast around Saturday morning, officials said.
In its 8:13 pm bulletin, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, “The well-marked low-pressure area over northwest and adjoining central Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards, concentrated into a depression. At 5:30 pm, the system lay centered 60km south-southeast of Puri, 130km east of Gopalpur and 230km east-northeast of Kalingapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).” “The system is very likely to cross south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puri and Kalingapatnam close to Gopalpur September 27 morning,” a senior scientist at the meteorological centre, Bhubaneswar, said.
Keeping in view the IMD warnings, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who is on a tour to Jharsuguda to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s programme there Saturday, held a review meeting and issued instructions to authorities to minimise damage to life and property in wake of the depression.
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Majhi spoke to the Collectors of 17 districts and asked them to remain prepared for rain September 26 and 27. He also instructed officials to keep a close watch on rivers and embankments, as excess rain could trigger waterlogging in various areas. The CM suggested operating control rooms at district and blocking levels round-the-clock for regular update of information. Collectors have been asked to take necessary actions based on evolving situations, an official statement said.
Majhi also ordered Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and fire service units and Fire Services personnel to remain prepared. Meanwhile, the IMD issued a ‘red alert’ (take action) for the three districts of Kalahandi, Koraput and Malkangiri, predicting over 20cm of rainfall; ‘orange warning’ (be prepared) for 14 districts, forecasting 12- 20 cm precipitation and ‘yellow alert’ (be aware) for 13 districts, predicting 7-11 cm downpour till 8:30am Saturday, an official said.
Heavy rain has been lashing the coastal and southern regions of the state, including the state capital Bhubaneswar, since Friday morning. Weather officials said wind speeds reaching up to 55 kmph is very likely to prevail over the Bay of Bengal and along and off the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha-West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts till September 26 evening. Squally wind speeds will reach 60 kmph, along the eastern coast from the evening of September 26 till the afternoon of September 27.
As sea conditions would be very rough from the evening of September 26 till the afternoon of September 27, the fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea during the period.
Odisha’s No. 1 trusted English Daily Newspaper.
