The Odisha government on Friday alerted district collectors in coastal, southern and northern parts of the state after the India Meteorological Department forecast that a cyclonic storm could form over the Bay of Bengal by the evening of November 16.While the IMD has not yet indicated the system's possible impact on Odisha, the state government has begun precautionary measures. Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari is scheduled to review the situation with senior officials and assess the possible impact of the cyclone, sources told PTI.“Though the IMD has not made any prediction, we have already taken precautionary measures and informed the district collectors of northern, southern and coastal regions to remain prepared and vigilant about the system brewing in the sea,” Pujari told reporters.In a special message to the chief secretary, the IMD said a low-pressure area had formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal and was located over the central Andaman Sea and the adjoining Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Friday morning.
The system is likely to move northwestwards, become a well-marked low-pressure area on November 14 and intensify into a depression over the same region around the morning of November 15. “Thereafter, it is likely to move north-northwestwards and intensify further into a cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal around November 16 evening,” the IMD said.In its midday bulletin, the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar issued a yellow alert, asking people to be aware of heavy rainfall in Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts on November 18 and 19. Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph are also likely in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh during this period.A yellow alert for heavy rainfall has also been issued for Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam and Puri districts on November 19 and 20.
Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds may occur in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh during the period.Strong winds of 45-55 kmph, gusting up to 65 kmph, are likely along and off the south Odisha coast on November 17. The sea is expected to remain rough to very rough, and the weather office has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the south Odisha coast that day.District authorities have been asked to remain prepared as the weather system is expected to strengthen into a cyclonic storm, with heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds and rough sea conditions forecast in parts of Odisha.- Ends