Bhubaneswar: Odisha Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) on Tuesday put the Collectors of 15 districts on alert to meet flood or water-logging situation that may arise in the event of possible heavy rainfall.
The alert was issued in view of the depression over the North Andaman Sea likely to intensify into a deep depression during the next 12 hours and into a possible cyclonic storm during the subsequent 24 hours.
SRC and special secretary, Disaster Management, Pradip Jena issued an advisory to the District Collectors of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Ganjam, Puri, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Nawarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Boudh, Nuapada and Malkangiri.
The widespread rainfall is most likely to occur in south and coastal Odisha from November 9 (Saturday). These areas will also experience squally wind with speed gusting up to 60 kmph.
“Keeping this in view, the collectors of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Ganjam, Puri, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Boudh, Nuapada and Malkangiri districts have been asked to stay on alert and take all possible measures,” the advisory said.
The IMD is yet to give any information on the possibility of the landfall of the cyclonic storm. However, going by the present movement of the system, the IMD hopes that the cyclonic storm is most likely to skip the Odisha coast and head for the West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts, the SRC said.