Fishermen alerted over cyclone 'Jal'

Fishermen in Orissa's coastal districts were on Sunday evening asked not to venture into the sea in view of the severe cyclonic storm 'Jal' over south-west Bay of Bengal, an official said.

Fishermen in Orissa's coastal districts were on Sunday evening asked not to venture into the sea in view of the severe cyclonic storm 'Jal' over south-west Bay of Bengal, an official said.

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The severe cyclonic storm 'Jal' has moved north-westwards and lay centred about 800 km south-south-west of the state's Gopalpur town in Ganjam district and 320 km east-south-east of Chennai, an official of the Bhubaneswar meteorological centre told IANS.

The cyclone would move in west-north-western direction and cross north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coast between Chennai and Nellore by Sunday night.

Although latest observations indicate signs of the cyclone weakening, two ports, Gopalpur and Paradip, in Orissa have been advised to keep hoisted distant warning signal and fishermen in the coastal belts have been advised not to venture into the sea, he said.

Under the influence of the cyclone, rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places in southern districts of the state and at one or two places in northern districts till Monday, he said.