A cyclone warning signal in Puducherry
Visakhapatnam/Bhubaneswar/Chennai: Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu are on alert in view of the gathering cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal, which is approaching India’s eastern coast packing winds at an estimated speed of 90-100 kmph and is expected to lash the coastal regions with extremely heavy rainfall starting next week. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), coastal areas and parts of Rayalaseema region in Andhra will have to brace for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall from Oct 27, since the cyclonic storm “Montha” (named by Thailand) is likely to cross the state’s coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada on Oct 28. The disaster management teams in the state have been placed on high alert. On Saturday, the depression over southeast Bay of Bengal moved nearly westwards and lay centred over the same region about 460 km west-southwest of Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), 950 km east-southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu), 960 km southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 970 km southeast of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh) and 1030 km south-southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha). S Karunasagar, a scientist at IMD-Amaravati, said squally weather with wind speed of 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely to prevail along and off the Andhra coast and Yanam on Oct 26. From Oct 27 till Oct 29, parts of Andra will receive heavy to extremely heavy rains. In Odisha, the storm is likely to bring sustained winds blowing at 90 to 100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph, and trigger heavy rainfall across southern coastal districts. Cyclone shelters have been prepared for possible evacuations and leaves of govt employees cancelled in several vulnerable districts, including Koraput, Ganjam, and Balasore. Revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari held a video conference with collectors of 15 districts likely to be affected, reviewing readiness and response plans. “Collectors have been directed to intensify preparations. People should not panic. Govt is taking all necessary steps to ensure safety and manage any emergency,” Pujari said. The IMD has warned that 16 of Odisha’s 30 districts may face significant impact. A red warning of possible major impact has been issued for seven districts – Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Ganjam, and Gajapati. IMD has indicated chances of heavy to very heavy rainfall between Oct 28 and 29 in these districts. A yellow warning has been issued for nine districts. As per IMD, squally weather with wind speed reaching 35 to 45 kmph is likely to prevail along and off the south Odisha coast from Saturday evening. It is likely to increase becoming 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph from Sunday evening and becoming gale wind speed reaching 60 to 70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph from Monday evening to early hours of Tuesday.
