The low pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal has turned into a depression and its a. likely to take the form of Cyclonic storm in next 24 hours and reach the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast on December 4, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its bulletin on Thursday.
According to the IMD bulletin issued on Friday morning, at 11:30 pm on Thursday, the pressure was centered over the Bay of Bengal near latitude 12.0 degree north and longitude 87.5 degree east about 770 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).
About 770 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) at BoB near latitude 12.0°N and long 87.5°E, the depression centered at 2330 hrs IST of 2 December 2021, moving north-westwards and into a cyclonic storm likely to accelerate. during the next 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/cgEjeOeZEj
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) 2 December 2021
IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rain Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal over the weekend due to cyclone.
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The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 32 teams in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal (8). Teams of the Indian Army and Navy are also ready with their ships and aircraft.
States gear up for cyclone response
Odisha
Odisha government has intensified preparations By preparing adequate personnel, machinery and logistics to meet the potential challenge posed by the cyclone.
Odisha’s Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena said the state government has kept 249 teams of 17 NDRF, 60 ODRAF and 172 firefighters ready and deputed them to districts for deployment.
PK Jena said the state government has ensured that all fishermen return to the coast by Thursday evening, adding that if any fisherman is in the sea, he will be back on the coast by Friday morning.
The Odisha government has banned fishing activities in the Bay of Bengal and Chilka Lake for three days from December 3. Additionally, all coastal districts have been directed to remain vigilant and farmers have been asked to harvest their paddy crops.
PK Jena said that district collectors of some vulnerable districts have been asked to evacuate people from low-lying areas and those living in kutcha houses for fear of rising tides during a possible cyclone.
The Meteorological Department has predicted extreme rain activities from Friday and wind speed reaching 100 kmph on Saturday when the cyclone makes a close approach to the Odisha coast. However, the IMD is yet to give details about the probable location of the cyclone.
Andhra
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting with the District Collectors of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam and discussed the precautionary measures in view of the cyclone response.
The Chief Minister directed the officials to set up relief camps at necessary places. He also directed the officials to remain alert in low-lying areas and ensure that no one is disturbed by the cyclone.
The state government has appointed special officers for Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts to oversee the relief measures.
West Bengal
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a high-level meeting and took stock of the preparedness for the cyclone in the state.
The government later issued a notice asking fishermen not to venture into the sea due to the formation of a low pressure area in the west-central Bay of Bengal.
“The fishermen who have already gone deep into the sea are being urged to return at the earliest,” the notice said.
Railways canceled trains due to cyclone reply
East Coast Railway has canceled 95 trains has been working in its jurisdiction for three days and has also prepared its disaster management tools in view of the possible cyclone.
An ECoR statement said that as a precautionary measure for the safety of passengers, 95 mail and express trains originating from different places and passing through the area have been canceled from December 2-4.
South Central Railway has also canceled 41 trains in view of cyclone response.
(Photo: India Today)
(Photo: India Today)
(Ashish Pandey, with inputs from PTI)
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