Odisha alerts coastal districts as weather system intensifies in Bay of Bengal
The state government has stepped up preparedness as a low-pressure area is projected to become a cyclonic storm by November 16.
The Odisha government on Friday alerted coastal districts and convened a high-level meeting to review readiness as a weather system over the Bay of Bengal shows signs of intensifying into a possible cyclonic storm, according to the Deccan Chronicle.
Revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari held a meeting on Friday evening with senior disaster management officials and Collectors of potentially affected districts to assess the situation and review precautionary measures.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicated that the system, which developed into a low-pressure area on Friday, is likely to become a well-marked low-pressure area on November 14 and a depression on November 15. It is projected to transform into a cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal by November 16.
Dr Manorama Mohanty, Director of the Regional Meteorological Centre, confirmed that the system's trajectory and intensity are being monitored. A Yellow Warning has been issued for 13 districts, including Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha, and Nayagada, for November 18 and 19.
Pujari said the government does not rely solely on IMD estimates for preparedness and begins preparations whenever a low-pressure system develops. He stated that Collectors of all coastal districts, as well as those in southern and northern Odisha, have been instructed to remain prepared.
The IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea while the system's path and intensity remain subject to change.