Odisha, Andhra on alert ahead of Cyclone Gulab’s landfall
NEW DELHI :Several trains have been cancelled and diverted ahead of cyclone ‘Gulab’, which is likely to make landfall on Sunday evening between Odisha’s Gopalpur and Kalingapatanam in Andhra Pradesh. “The next two hours are crucial. We expect winds to blow at the speed of 90-100 kmph.
Two teams of NDRF and 4 teams of SDRF have arrived here. Heavy rainfall could lead to floods, which is another challenge. 19 mandals in the district are flood-prone,” Srikakulam collector Sumit Kumar said, news agency ANI reported.
“The Chief Minister has asked people to remain indoors, particularly in pucca houses from Sunday evening till 10 am on Monday, during which the cyclone will pass through the region,” Special Relief Commissioner PK Jena told reporters. Cyclone Gulab has made landfall in coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, the weather office tweeted this evening. The cyclone will cross the coasts between Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Gopalpur in Odisha in the next three hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
West Bengal, however, heaved a sigh of relief for now, as the weatherman said the developing cyclonic storm is expected to give the region a miss, but also forecast the formation of a new low-pressure system near the coast of Myanmar, which, in all probability, will dump heavy rain in the state’s southern districts next week.“The system is likely to move nearly westwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh-South Odisha coasts between Kalingapatnam and Gopalpur around evening on September 26,” IMD Director-General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said.
Cyclone Gulab is the second to hit Odisha in four months after Cyclone Yaas in May. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said efforts are on to ensure no casualties due to the cyclone in the seven high-risk districts – Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri.”The next two hours are crucial. We expect winds to blow at the speed of 90-100 kmph. Two teams of NDRF and 4 teams of SDRF have arrived here. Heavy rainfall could lead to floods, which is another challenge. 19 mandals in the district are flood-prone,” Srikakulam collector Sumit Kumar said, news agency ANI reported.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Mr Patnaik and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and assured them of the centre’s support. “Discussed the cyclone situation in parts of Odisha with CM . The Centre assures all possible support in overcoming this adversity,” PM Modi tweeted. Five fishermen from Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam fell into the sea after strong waves hit their boat off Mandasa coast, ANI reported, adding police and other teams are trying to rescue them.
At least 42 teams of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and 24 squads of the National Disaster Response Force, along with over 100 teams of firefighters have been dispatched to these places. “The Chief Minister has asked people to remain indoors, particularly in pucca houses from Sunday evening till 10 am on Monday, during which the cyclone will pass through the region,” Special Relief Commissioner PK Jena told reporters.
(Bureau Report with Agency Inputs).
.
