Bhubaneswar: Odisha is prepared with its personnel and disaster mitigation machinery as a possible third cyclone in three weeks brews over the Bay of Bengal, state Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said Saturday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal had intensified into a well-marked low-pressure system and was likely to become a depression by Sunday, before further intensifying into a cyclonic storm November 16.
The system could intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the sea by November 18, the IMD said in its evening bulletin.
Pujari said the weather agency, however, is yet to indicate the likely landfall area and trajectory of the system.
He noted that two severe cyclonic storms, Arnab and Murasu, had already affected Odisha, although both made landfall in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Arnab made landfall October 28, while Murasu hit the Andhra Pradesh coast November 2.
Cyclone Arnab severely affected Odisha’s southern districts, particularly Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal.
Ganjam witnessed devastating floods after unprecedented rainfall during the cyclone’s landfall and subsequent movement over land. At least 11 people were killed, and six others remained missing in incidents linked to the cyclone, officials said.
“We do not know whether the impending cyclone will hit the Odisha coast. But we need to remain prepared, keeping in view the impact of cyclone Arnab. The government has put all collectors on alert, with a focus on districts in the southern, northern and coastal regions,” the minister said.
In a letter to district collectors, Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh P Patil asked districts placed under the ‘Orange’ and ‘Yellow’ warning categories by the IMD to remain particularly vigilant.
Pujari said that even if the cyclone did not make landfall in Odisha, the state could still receive substantial rainfall.
The Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, has forecast heavy rainfall of 7-11 cm at isolated places on November 18, while very heavy rainfall of 12-20 cm is likely in some districts November 19 and 20 across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal.
The IMD said squally weather, with wind speeds of 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph, was likely to begin along and off the south Odisha coast from the morning of November 17.
Wind speeds could increase to 50-60 kmph, gusting to 70 kmph, from November 18 until the morning of November 20.
Similar squally conditions, with winds of 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph, are likely along and off the Odisha coast from the morning of November 20 to the morning of November 21.
With sea conditions likely to remain rough from November 17 to 21, the IMD has advised fishermen to return to the coast by November 16.