Odisha government on Wednesday asked collectors to prepare for evacuation from 13 districts amid the forecast of a cyclonic storm, Jawad, reaching the coast on December 4. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the low-pressure area forming in the south Andaman Sea will intensify into a depression and move towards the Odisha coast as a cyclonic storm on December 4.
As part of extensive pre-emptive measures, the government has chalked out a disaster management strategy for rescue and relief operations. National Disaster Response Force, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and fire department personnel have been requisitioned for the operations.
State relief commissioner P K Jena said in an advisory that the sea condition is likely to get very tough as the wind speed reaches 45 to 55 kmph, gusting to 65 kmph on Friday. After the depression takes the shape of a cyclonic storm, the system will move northwestwards and reach north Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast around Saturday morning.
Cyclone Jawad: IMD issues alert for north Andhra Pradesh, Odisha coasts
On the morning of Cyclone Jawad landfall, the wind is likely to reach 80kmph gusting to 90 kmph.
{{/usCountry}}On the morning of Cyclone Jawad landfall, the wind is likely to reach 80kmph gusting to 90 kmph.
{{/usCountry}}“Though it is clear that the cyclonic storm will approach the Odisha coast, it is too immature to say where it will make landfall and other details. However, under its impact, several coastal districts of Odisha will experience light to moderate rainfall from December 3. South Odisha districts may also experience heavy rainfall on December 3,” IMD director-general Mrutunjay Mohapatra said.
“Only after the depression is formed will we be in a position to predict the path and location of the cyclone crossing the coast and its intensity,” Mohapatra added.
But the intensity of rainfall in Odisha will pick up from Saturday as the coastal districts and interior districts are expected to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall. The IMD has issued a red alert for Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts. An orange alert has been issued in Kendrapara, Cuttack, Khurda, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Koraput districts for Saturday.
(With agency inputs)