Cyclone 'Titli' to weaken by evening

Bhubaneswar: The very severe cyclonic storm 'Titli', which made a landfall near southwest of Gopalpur at Palasa of Srikalumum in Andhra Pradesh today, is expected to weaken gradually by evening, informed Regional Bhubaneswar Meteorological Center.

Official sources said that the very severe cyclonic storm Titli will turn in to a deep depression by Friday morning.

"The cyclonic storm will move towards north-westwards and re-curve towards north-eastwards. By evening today, it will weaken into cyclonic storm and further weaken and re-curve into deep depression by tomorrow morning. Later, it will gradually turn into depression and move towards Gangetic West Bengal," informed Director of Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, HR Biswas.

Biswas further informed that the wind speed at many places in south interior and south coastal districts including Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Kandhamal and Nayagarh, where the impact of the cyclonic storm is the highest at present, will reach gusting to 100 kmph.

"The sea condition will continue to remain very rough to high over west-central and north Bay of Bengal and along & off south Odisha coast during the next six hours. It will become very rough along and off these coasts in the subsequent 24 hours and will gradually improve thereafter. Sea condition will be rough to very rough along and off north Odisha coasts on October 11 and 12," said the latest bulletin of India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The IMD also advised the fishermen not to venture into sea along and off Odisha coast and north and adjoining central Bay of Bengal till October 12.

Meanwhile, several places in Gajapati district reported large-scale damage as road communication between Paralakhemundi-Gosani-Kashinagar and Mohana blocks have been cut-off due to the uprooting of trees.

The communication networks have been disrupted while there are also reports of damage to several houses in Ganjam district.