New Delhi: The coastal states Odisha and Andhra have braced up cyclone 'Gulab' which is expected to make landfall on Sunday evening between Gopalpur and Kalingapatanam in Andhra Pradesh. The deep depression mounted over the Bay of Bengal on Saturday intensified into Cyclone 'Gulab' following which the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an 'orange' alert for north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts.
Cyclone Warning Division of the IMD warned that the cyclonic storm is likely to move nearly westwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts between Kalingapatnam and Gopalpur.
Heavy rainfall, gusty wind speed reaching 70 kmph, and very rough sea conditions are very likely to remain under the influence of a depression over northwest Bay of Bengal and off West Bengal and Odisha coast.
The Odisha government has already mobilised men and machinery, and launched an evacuation drive in seven identified districts in the southern parts of the state. As sea conditions would be rough, the fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea and off Odisha coasts northwest and adjoining the west-central Bay of Bengal till September 27.
All Coast Guard installations and ships have been put on alert and directed to maintain the highest level of preparedness to deal with the emergency.
Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure ahead of the landfall of cyclone 'Gulab', several trains have been cancelled and diverted.
List of trains cancelled:
- Train No.08569/70 Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam-Bhubaneswar special trains in both directions
- Train No. 07015 Bhubaneswar-Secunderabad special train
- Train No. 02071 Bhubaneswar- Tirupathi special
- Train No.08417 Puri- Gunupur special
- Train number 02859 Puri-Chennai Central special
- Train number 08521/22 Gunupur-Visakhapatnam-Gunupur special in both directions
- Train number 07244 Rayagada-Guntur special
- Train number 08572 Visakhapatnam-Tata special
- Train number 02085 Sambalpur-Nanded
- Train number 08508 Visakhapatnam-Rayagada special
- Train number 08518/17 Visakhapatnam- Korba- Visakhapatnam special in both directions
- Train number 08527/28 Raipur-Visakhapatnam Raipur special in both directions
A toll-free contact number- 1554 has been issued by the Coast Guard SAR agency for any emergency or assistance at sea during this climate crisis.