Cyclonic Circulation Over Bay Of Bengal Likely To Intensify Into Depression By Weekend, Odisha Sounds Alert

The government of the coastal state of Odisha on Wednesday issued an alert for a possible cyclonic storm.

People sit along a promenade (Source: File photo/AFP)

New Delhi: The cyclonic flow over South Andaman Sea and its adjoining region could form into a low-pressure region by May 6, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday. The weather system is probably going to move northwestwards and escalate continuously into a downturn during the following 48 hours (by May 8), it added. The government of the coastal state of Odisha on Wednesday issued an alert for a possible cyclonic storm. In this, the district officials have been asked to be prepared for any situation. 

ii) Formation of a Low Pressure area over South Andaman Sea on 06th May, 2022 and intensification into Depression during subsequent 48 hours with northwestwards movement. Under its influence:

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 5, 2022

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has also predicted a cyclonic storm around May 8 and said that winds of up to 75 kmph can be made during this period.

Odisha Chief Secretary SC Mohapatra had said on Wednesday, "The state is well prepared for the eventuality if any. District collectors have been informed about the possible calamity." 

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Jena in a letter to the district collectors of Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada and Kandhamal asked them to prepare in advance to reduce the impact of the possible cyclone.

THUNDERSTORM WITH LIGHTENING AND GUSTY SURFACE WIND SPEED REACHING 30- #40KMPH LIKELY OCCUR OVER SOME PARTS OF DISTRICTS OF BHADRAK, JAJPUR, KANDHAMAL, CUTTACK , NAYAGARH, KHORDA (INCLUDING BHUBANESWAR), GANJAM, GAJAPATI, NAWARANGPUR, KALAHANDI, DEOGARH DURING NEXT 3HRS pic.twitter.com/nGM98Ww5qX

— Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar (@mcbbsr) May 5, 2022

On the other hand, IMD senior scientist Umashankar Das said on Thursday that we expect a low-pressure area to form in and around South Andaman Sea on May 6. After forming this, the low-pressure area will move north-westwards which will turn into a deep depression after 48 hours i.e. on May 8. 

"We are expecting a low-pressure area to be formed in South Andaman sea and its neighbourhood around May 6. After formation, we are expecting the low-pressure area will move in the northwest which will further intensify into a deep depression after 48 hrs, i.e., on May 8," he told ANI on Thursday.

Odisha| Cyclonic circulation y'day around Andaman sea will repeat tomorrow and move towards north-west. As per our estimate, wind speed now on would hover between 40-50 km/hr, it will further increase May 8 onwards and can go upto 75 km/hr: Umashankar Das, Senior Scientist, IMD pic.twitter.com/gIQ0uqu1dc

— ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2022

"As of now, we are expecting the wind speed (because of depression) to be around 40-50 km/hr from May 5 onwards, which will further increase to 55-65 km/hr for gusting up to 75 km/hr on May 8," he added.

At the same time, there is an atmosphere of panic among the people in the state, which is going to face another cyclone, which is being known from their social media posts. The government has appealed to the people not to panic.