Cyclone Jawad likely to weaken into deep depression; heavy rains across Odisha, Andhra

• Cyclone Jawad is likely to weaken into a deep depression before reaching Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast by Saturday. Development comes as a relief for Odisha which is already battered by Gulab, Yaas in the last one year. Officials said it is expected to weaken further and continue to move north-eastwards towards the West Bengal coast. Officials had earlier said Jawad would make landfall in Puri before heading out to Bay of Bengal. The entire coastal region of Odisha has been experiencing rainfall since Friday night. The MeT office said Paradip recorded maximum downpour at 68 mm & Bhubaneswar 10.4 mm in the last 12 hours. The IMD DG said Jawad is likely to rub the Odisha coast near Puri with a wind speed of 90-100 kmph. Meanwhile, the state govt has asked district officials to evacuate people living in low-lying areas. Officials said no blanket evacuation as the expected wind speed is low as against other cyclones. Officials added that nearly 22,700 fishing boats have already returned from sea & Chilika lake.