Cyclonic Storm Titli Heads To Odisha-Andhra Coast; Issues Red Alert
- 09-Oct-2018
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New Delhi: A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm, Titli. It is heading towards the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast. India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a red alert for Odisha. The IMD has forecast “heavy to very heavy rainfall” at several places and “extremely heavy rainfall” at isolated areas accompanied by wind speeds reaching 100 kmph.
It said, Titli is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours. It is likely to move northwestwards from tonight and cross Odisha adjoining north Andhra Pradesh coasts between Gopalpur and Kalingapatnam around Thursday.
Titli is presently centred at about 530 km southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha and 480 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. The IMD bulletin said while wind speeds would reach 100 kmph along south Odisha coast, it would remain within 75 kmph in the north.
Fishermen along the Odisha coast and central and north Bay of Bengal have been advised not to venture into sea till Friday. Heavy to heavy rainfall has been predicted in south coastal Odisha’s Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts from Wednesday. Kendrapara, Khurda, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore are expected to receive very heavy rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday, the IMD said.
The Odisha government has also issued a storm surge warning, stating that low-lying areas of Ganjam, Khurda and Puri districts of Odisha and Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh may be inundated during the time of Titli’s landfall. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has issued an alert to all coastal districts and collectors have been asked to make necessary arrangements to shift people living in low-lying areas
Deputy Special Relief Commissioner P K Mohapatra said around 300 motor boats have been arranged to assist in the rescue operation and all 879 cyclone and flood shelters have been kept on standby.
