BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Monday advised people not to panic as cyclonic storm ‘Kyant’ may not touch Odisha coast.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the deep depression over east central Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm during next 24 hours. “We are in constant touch with the IMD, New Delhi. Collectors of 11 coastal districts have been asked to remain alert and ready to face any situation. Fishermen have been warned against venturing into the sea,” Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Mohapatra told mediapersons here.
The system now lies about 930 km east-southeast of Gopalpur. It is very likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm during next 24 hours, IMD director, Bhubaneswar, Sarat Chandra Sahu said.
The system will move northwards for some time and then recurve initially north-northwestwards and then northwestwards. “It is very likely to reach northwest Bay of Bengal on the morning of October 27,” Sahu said and added that the system is likely to recurve near Myanmar coast on Tuesday.
A bulletin issued by the IMD, Bhubaneswar advised fishermen not to venture into the sea as its condition will remain very rough on October 27. As coastal districts will receive heavy rain triggered by the system in the Bay, the SRC has advised the farmers tokeep the harvested crops covered in the yard. He said there is no need to panic as the system may not have any impact on Odisha and may move towards Bangladesh as per the forecast of IMD.
The SRC said the State Government is ready to face the situation if the cyclonic storm moves towards Odisha coast. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has convened a meeting on Tuesday to take stock of the situation and review the preparedness.
The system will move towards northwest Bay of Bengal. The impact of the cyclonic storm on Odisha will be around October 26-27. It is likely to have impact on central and north Odisha, director of IMD, Bhubaneswar, Sarat Sahu said.
According to Skymet Weather, the cyclonic storm will reach Indian coast by October 28. “Various models are suggesting different areas of landfall. The most probable landfall is over the Odisha coast,” it said.