The India Meteorological Department on Thursday issued a red alert for Odisha and an orange alert for northern Andhra Pradesh in anticipation of Cyclone Jawad that is expected to form over the Bay of Bengal on Friday.
The weather agency issues red or orange alert when it expects heavy rain with strong winds and thunderstorms.
In a statement, the weather agency said a well-marked low pressure area was lying over Bay of Bengal as of 8.30 am in the morning and was likely to turn into a depression in 12 hours.
“Then it is likely move northwestwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm over parts of the Bay of Bengal during the subsequent 24 hours,” the agency said in the statement issued at 2.30 pm.
It added that cyclonic storm was likely to reach north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts around Saturday and then move north-northeastwards.
The National Disaster Response Force Director General Atul Karwal said that 33 more teams will be deployed in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal to deal with the damage that may arise from the impending cyclone, ANI reported. “All the people have been taken to safer places,” he added.
The decision was taken following a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi about the cyclone.
The weather agency has predicted heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall in parts of south coastal Odisha and north coastal Andhra Pradesh on Friday.
On Saturday, the agency said that moderate rainfall was likely in most parts of these areas but extremely heavy rainfall would take place in isolated places in these regions as well as north and interior Odisha districts and Gangetic West Bengal.
It has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea till Sunday.
The India Meterological Department officials in Jharkhand said that the cyclone would have moderate impact in the state between December 3 and December 6 and have issued no warning for the state.
The Coast Guard has started taking pre-emptive measures in the eastern coast. The Coast Guard Disaster Relief Teams were on standby with inflatable boats, life buoys and life jackets, defence public relations officer in Chennai said on Wednesday.
India Meteorological Department scientist Umashankar Das said that there was a possibility of landslides in hilly areas, reported the Hindustan Times. He advised people to stay indoors.
Das said that wind speed in coastal areas would be around 60-80 kmph on Saturday afternoon.
The Odisha government has asked the district collectors to prepare an evacuation plan by Friday, The Hindu reported. State Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra requested the collectors of coastal districts to keep cyclone shelters ready and stock them with dry foods.
In Andhra Pradesh, the Vizianagaram and Srikakulam district administrations have set up control rooms in the collectors’ offices. The officials will monitor the situation and take timely steps to mitigate any damage due to heavy rain.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy also asked the district administrations to arrange relief camps and instructed officials to move people from low-lying areas.
On Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba in a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee asked the fishermen and all vessels at sea to return to the shore, the Hindustan Times reported.
Meanwhile, the Indian Railways has announced cancellation of 204 trains.
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