India
oi-Ashish Rana
Odisha is preparing for a possible cyclone as a powerful storm is expected to hit the Andhra Pradesh coast on 28 October. The state government has put emergency teams on alert, cancelled official leave and ordered schools to close in five districts to protect people from the expected bad weather.
Odisha is preparing for a severe cyclonic storm forecast to hit the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28, with winds up to 140 kmph; emergency teams are deployed, and schools are closed in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri districts.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has asked officials to move people from unsafe areas to safer places. The government has set a clear target of preventing loss of life.
Cyclone May Bring Winds Up To 140 Kmph
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that a depression over the Bay of Bengal could develop into a very severe cyclonic storm. It is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam on 28 October.
Wind speeds could reach 115-125 kmph, with gusts of up to 140 kmph. Even though the expected landfall area is around 300 km from Odisha’s Gopalpur, parts of Odisha could face heavy rain and strong winds.
Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri are likely to face the biggest impact. Winds of 70-90 kmph are possible in southern and coastal parts of the state.
Schools Closed In Five Districts
All schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri will remain closed on 28 and 29 October.
Officials in other districts will decide whether to close educational institutions based on the weather. The government has also cancelled the leave of district collectors, district magistrates and officials in key offices. They have been told to return to their headquarters immediately.
60 ODRAF Teams And 17 NDRF Teams Ready
The state has deployed around 60 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams and 17 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams. Another 225 Fire Services teams are on high alert.
Ganjam District Collector Keerthi Vasan V said 100 cyclone shelters were ready. Officials have also identified 1,000 temporary locations to house people if evacuations become necessary.
Majhi has asked officials to give special attention to elderly people, patients and pregnant women. They should be moved to healthcare facilities if needed. Departments handling health, electricity, water, agriculture and rural development have also been told to prepare for possible damage.
Nine Ports On Cyclone Alert
The weather warning also covers parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Heavy to very heavy rain is expected in Puducherry, Karaikal and nearby Tamil Nadu districts as the northeast monsoon remains active.
Cyclone warning signals have been raised at nine ports, including Chennai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Karaikal, Pamban and Thoothukudi.
