Bhubaneswar: Odisha is bracing for heavy rainfall early next week under the impact of a possible cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, which is likely to skirt the state and move towards West Bengal and Bangladesh, the IMD said on Friday.
Odisha’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Pramila Mallick said that instructions have been issued to all the districts and coastal region authorities to deal with any eventuality.
The system is likely to trigger heavy rainfall when it crosses parallel to the state’s coast on Monday.
Mallick said personnel of the fire service department, the ODRAF and NDRF are on standby for any emergency situation.
The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) also took a review meeting on Friday over the possible cyclone.
Special Relief Commissioner & Addl.Chief Secretary to Govt.(Disaster Management) had taken a meeting on preparedness for possible cyclone in Bay of Bengal today with ADG, Law & Order, ADG, Fire Services,INS Chilika,Indian Navy, Coast Guard and NDRF, Mundali. @CMO_Odisha @osdma pic.twitter.com/dd1JGuvZV7
— SRC, Govt of Odisha (@SRC_Odisha) October 21, 2022
The State government had earlier announced cancellation of government employees who have been asked to remain present at the headquarters.
The weather system, which is presently in the form of a low pressure area over the North Andaman sea and adjoining areas, is likely to take shape of a depression on Saturday and a deep depression on Sunday, before intensifying into a cyclonic storm on Monday, and move in north and north-east direction towards West Bengal and Bangladesh, the IMD said.
The cyclonic storm is expected to be christened Sitrang’, as suggested by Thailand.