Puri: The deep depression that has formed over the Bay of Bengal at 5.30 am this morning has intensified into Cyclone JAWAD and is likely to make landfall in Puri district, informed SRC Pradeep Jena in a press meet. The possible cyclone JAWAD is likely to make its landfall between December 4 evening and December 5 morning.
The system may divert its course towards the sea after hitting the Odisha coast. There is also a possibility of the cyclonic system not hitting the coast in case it changes its path further.
The wind speed is likely to remain around 90-100kmph, added SRC Jena.
The districts including Puri, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, and Kendrapara will be most impacted by cyclone JAWAD. As the system is re-curving, it is likely to move north-northeast wards.
The state will receive heavy spells of rain from tonight, said reports.
Meanwhile, the State government has made elaborate arrangements to avoid any loss of life and property. It has started the evacuation of people living in the low-lying areas and deployed several teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and Odisha Fire Services in the districts which are likely to be affected by the impending cyclone. As many as 14 coastal districts have been alerted.
There will be 60 ODRAF teams and 172 teams of fire department will be deployed in the concerned districts. At present, 33 teams from ODRAF, 158 teams of fire department, and 24 teams of the NDRF have been deployed. Besides, as many as 51 teams have been kept on reserve. For Ganjam district, a maximum of 45 teams will be deployed, 23 teams for Puri, 21 teams for Khordha, and 19 teams for Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, and Kendrapara districts each.
Fishermen are advised not to venture into southeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal till today, December 3, west-central & adjoining the northwest Bay of Bengal and along & off north Andhra Pradesh – Odisha- West Bengal coasts till December 5.
The off-shore & alongshore operations along Odisha coast (Viz., All ports of Odisha, ITR Chandipur, Army Defence College, Gopalpur, INS Chilika, Chilika Development Authority establishment, ICZMP activity, Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary, Kendrapada, ONGC Odisha, etc) are advised to be judiciously regulated on today, 3rd December and will be suspended on December 4, to ensure the safety of life and property.
Also read: Odisha to be directly affected by Cyclone JAWAD: JTWC
Ms Kalinga