Cyclonic storm likely to impact coastal Odisha

Bhubaneswar: A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal that is taking the shape of a cyclonic storm is likely to impact coastal Odisha, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday.

The IMD, however, said it can confirm the actual impact on Odisha only after the cyclonic storm recurves close to the Myanmar coast on Monday.

"The depression over east-central Bay of Bengal moved East-Northeastwards, intensified into a deep depression and lay centred at about 950 km East-Southeast of Gopalpur. The system is most likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours," said an IMD bulletin.

It will move Northeastwards and reach close to North Myanmar coast by Sunday evening. Thereafter, it will recurve initially North-Northwestwards skirting Myanmar coast and then Northwestwards towards Northwest Bay of Bengal, the bulletin said.

"Presently, we cannot say what impact the cyclonic storm will have on Odisha. We can say that on Monday only after the cyclonic storm is formed. However, we predict that the storm is likely to have an impact on coastal Odisha on October 27-28," said Bhubaneswar Met Department Director Sarat Chandra Sahu.

He said Distant Cautionary Signal Number One (DC-I) has been hoisted at all ports in Odisha and fishermen are advised to be cautious while venturing into the interior/distant sea along the Odisha coast during the period.

Meanwhile, Special Relief Commissioner Pradipta Mohapatra said the state government is ready to face the cyclonic storm.

"As per the Met Department, the storm is likely to have an impact on coastal Odisha on October 27-28. We are prepared for the cyclonic storm," said Mohapatra.