India's East Coast Braces For Year's First Cyclone, Odisha Put On High Alert

Cyclone News Update: The IMD said the low-pressure area over the South Andaman Sea is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by Sunday evening.

Representational Image. The Odisha government said disaster response and fire services teams have been kept on standby (Source: Getty Images)

New Delhi: The states on India's east coast, especially Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, are expected to receive very heavy rainfall next week as the low-pressure area formed over South Andaman Sea on Friday is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm, news agency PTI reported. The IMD said the low-pressure area over the South Andaman Sea and neighbouring southeast Bay of Bengal was expected to move northwestwards and intensify into a depression by Saturday.

The system is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by Sunday evening, the IMD said.

"The low-pressure area is very likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal, and into a cyclonic storm over the eastcentral Bay of Bengal," India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director-General Mrutunjay Mohapatra was quoted by PTI in its report.

He said that it would likely reach the shore on May 10. "We have not yet made any forecast on where it will make landfall. We have also not mentioned anything on the possible wind speed during the landfall," Mohapatra said.

Following the forecast, the Odisha government said disaster response and fire services teams were kept on readiness. As of yet, the system has had no effect on Odisha.

"When the system approaches the coast, we can say where it will make landfall. As the sea condition may be rough from May 9, fishermen should not venture out," Mohapatra said.

"We have estimated that the wind speed of the cyclonic storm will remain at 80-90 kmph in the sea. It will be further updated after the formation of the depression on Saturday," he added.

In light of the cyclonic storm's expected development, the meteorological service warned of thunderstorms with lightning and heavy rainfall over the districts of Gangetic West Bengal between Tuesday and Friday next week.

NDRF, ODRAF, and 175 fire services units have been placed on high alert, according to Odisha's Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena.

All leaves for fire service personnel have been cancelled, according to Director-General of Fire Services SK Upadhaya.

Last three summers, the region was hit by cyclones: Yaas in 2021, Amphan in 2020, and Fani in 2019.

Odisha, according to SRC Jena, is prepared for everything. Collectors in 18 districts have been placed on high alert and instructed to take all necessary precautions.

He stated that there is no need to be concerned because the state administration is well-prepared to deal with any cyclone.

The rains and thunderstorms that have pounded Odisha over the previous two days are due to the nor'westers, according to the meteorological office.

To prepare for the potential disaster, the Odisha government had preliminary consultations with the power, health, drinking water, irrigation, works, and other agencies.

(With PTI Inputs)