Odisha and Andhra Pradesh on High Alert: Deep Depression in Bay of Bengal Intensifies into Cyclone Threat

Fire department personnel remain vigilant in Puri on Sunday as a potential cyclone approaches.

Officials reported that the Odisha government has placed all 30 districts on high alert as the depression in the Bay of Bengal has strengthened into a deep depression and is gradually advancing toward the east coast.

According to authorities, Odisha will face very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall on October 28 and 29.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for five districts in Odisha - Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam - while orange and yellow alerts have been issued for numerous other districts.

The weather department has also hoisted Distant Cautionary Signal No-I (DC-1) at all Odisha ports and advised fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea until October 29.

An alert has been sounded across the entire Odisha coastline from Ganjam to Balasore, with authorities urging both fishermen and coastal residents to remain vigilant and stay away from the sea as conditions are expected to become rough.

Authorities are utilizing loudspeakers and megaphones to alert fishermen who are already at sea, instructing them to return to shore immediately.

Officials stated that the administration is closely monitoring the situation to ensure all fishing boats return safely.

Odisha's Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari confirmed that all 30 districts in the state have been placed on alert with personnel and equipment ready for rescue and relief operations.

The minister added that District Collectors have been instructed to evacuate people from low-lying areas due to anticipated heavy rainfall and locations likely to experience strong surface winds.

Seven districts in southern and coastal regions have canceled leave for government employees given the urgency of the situation.

Gajapti District Collector Madhumita reported that relocation of pregnant women and vulnerable individuals has already begun. People residing in vulnerable areas and kutcha houses are being moved to safe shelters.

All Anganwadi centers and schools will remain closed until October 30, and two Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams have been deployed in the district.

The Puri administration has implemented restrictions on tourist access to sea beaches on October 27, 28, and 29 in anticipation of the cyclone.

According to the IMD's statement, "At 8:30 am this morning, the system was located approximately 620 km west of Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, 780 km of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, 830 km of Visakhapatnam & Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh and 930 km of Gopalpur in Odisha."

"It is likely to move nearly west-northwestwards, intensify further into a cyclonic storm over southwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours," the mid-day bulletin issued at 1 pm stated.

The cyclone is expected to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of October 28 and is forecasted to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada, during the evening or night of October 28, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 90-100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph.