The severe cyclonic storm over the west central Bay og Bengal has weakened into a cyclonic storm and lay centred about 600 km south-south-west off Paradip tonight, the cyclone warning centre said.
The system was likely to move in a northernly direction towards north Andhra Pradesh and Orissa coast, it said.
The Orissa government yesterday alerted the collectors of 12 districts, including those on the coastal plains, to gear up to meet the situation if the storm headed towards the state.
There is no reason for the people to panic. The government was fully prepared to meet the situation, state Revenue Minister Biswabhushan Harichandan said earlier.
The weather office has warned that under the influence of the system heavy to very heavy rainfall with gale force wind was likely to commence over coastal Orissa over the next 24 hours.