The Odisha government has cancelled leave for its employees as the state braces for a cyclone.
A low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 26 and cross the coast between October 27 and 28.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the low-pressure area is likely to intensify into a depression on October 24. It is then expected to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a deep depression on October 25 and a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 26.
The system is likely to intensify further and move west-northwestwards towards the north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts over the following two days, the IMD said.
Minister of revenue and disaster management, Suresh Pujari, on Friday said: “Today, we had a meeting attended by the chief secretary, Special relief commissioner and officials from various departments. We have alerted all departments to remain on high alert.”
Fishermen have been advised to return to shore by Saturday morning. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have already been deployed in vulnerable areas, the minister said.
A red warning has been issued for Gajapati, Ganjam and Puri districts for October 27, and for Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam districts for October 28.