A cyclonic storm is likely to hit the coasts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha on Saturday morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.
It said a low pressure lay over south Thailand and its neighbourhood at 8.30 am, which is likely to emerge into the Andaman Sea during the next 12 hours.
The IMD added that isolated extremely heavy rainfall is likely to take place over Andaman & Nicobar Islands on December 2 and over coastal Odisha on December 4 and on Gangetic West Bengal on December 4 and 5.
The Met office predicted “heavy to very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy rainfall” at isolated places over coastal Odisha and “heavy to very heavy” rain at isolated places over adjoining interior districts of the state, coastal districts of West Bengal and north coastal Andhra Pradesh.
“It is likely that the northeastern states also experience enhanced rainfall activity on December 5-6, with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall owing to the likely northeastward movement of the remnant of the system during the same period,” the IMD said.
It said that squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph will blow over the southeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal on December 2.
From the early morning of December, 3 gale winds speed reaching 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph is likely to prevail over central Bay of Bengal.
The wind speed will gradually increase to 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph over northwest and adjoining west central Bay of Bengal from the morning of December 4 for the subsequent 24 hours.
Odisha steps up preparations in five districts likely to bear brunt
Taking stock of the precautionary measures on Monday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged the people to cooperate with the administration for shifting to safer places.
During discussion with Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding preparedness for the cyclone, the Chief Minister informed that the State is fully prepared.
“We are fully prepared and our officers are in touch with officials of the Centre. We will get back on requirements,” he said.
Official sources said evacuation has already started in Balasore district, which will be in the eye of the storm, and low lying areas of Kendrapara district where the storm surge is expected to inundate large areas.The evacuation process will be completed by Tuesday afternoon.
Arrangements have been made to provide dry and cooked food to the people at the cyclone shelters, the SRC said, adding that steps have been taken to ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity and drinking water.