Low Pressure Likely To Intensify Into A Cyclonic Storm On May 8
Bhubaneswar, May 6: The Odisha government has geared up and kept the NDRF, ODRAF and Fire services teams ready for deployment as a low pressure has already been formed over the South Andaman sea on Friday.
IMD sources said under the influence of cyclonic circulation over south Andaman sea and neighbour-hood a low pressure has formed over South Andaman sea and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal.
In a tweet, the IMD said the system is likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a depression during the subsequent 48 hours. The low-pressure area over South Andaman sea and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal is very likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a depression by May 7 evening and further into a Cyclonic storm by May 8.
The cyclonic storm is likely to hit the Odisha Andhra Pradesh coast on May 10. Meanwhile, several parts of coastal Odisha experienced rains for the second day on Friday due to northwestern.
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), Pradeep Jena said the state government has kept all the agencies ready to deal with any situation even though a clear picture is yet to emerge as to whether the cyclonic storm would make landfall and hit the Odisha coast. Jena had a video conferencing with 18 district collectors on Thursday and had a meeting with the officials of the National Disaster Response Force(NDRF) and Odisha Disaster Management Authority.
The SRC said 17 NDRF teams, 20 ODRAF teams and 175 fire services are on high alert and ready to be deployed in case of a cyclonic storm hitting the coast. He had appealed to the people not to go for panic buying and issued instructions to take action against the hoarders.
The collectors of all the 18 districts likely to be affected by the possible cyclone have been asked to prepare an action plan to deal with the situation and submit a report to the government by Friday evening.
Met sources said several parts of Odisha experienced rains due to northwestern and not due to the low pressure formed over South Andaman sea. The district collectors were asked to identify all the safe shelters and public buildings in the cyclone vulnerable areas and make their temporary shelters in case of any eventuality.
The SRC asked the BDOs to check all the cyclone shelters in their area. The Energy and Panchayat Raj departments were also asked to be ready to deal with the situation. Meanwhile, the IMD has asked the fishermen not to venture into the sea as the sea would remain very rough from May 8 to May 10.
