Andhra and Odisha get ready to face Cyclone Roanu's wrath

Cyclonic storm ‘Roanu’ over Bay of Bengal moved north-eastwards and lay centred around 280 kilometre southwest off Gopalpur coast on Friday as rains coupled with gusty
surface winds lashed several parts of Odisha.

It is likely to move further north-eastwards along and off Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Friday night, the meteorological centre said.

The system is likely to cross south Bangladesh coast between Khepupara and Cox’s Bazar by Saturday night or early morning of May 22 as a cyclonic storm, the Met office said.

Rain and thundershower lashed many places in Ganjam, Khurda, Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, and Balasore in Odisha, disrupting normal life, the weatherman said.

The MeT office also predicted heavy to very heavy rain at a few places over coastal Odisha and heavy to very heavy at one or two places over interior Odisha during next 48 hours.

In view of the weather conditions, Distant Warning Signal Number Two (DW-II) was replaced by Local Cautionary Signal Number Three (LC-III) at all ports in the state.

Gusty surface winds from south-easterly direction with 60 to 70 kmph speed and gusting to 80 kmph in South Odisha Coast, and 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph in North Odisha Coast would prevail along and off Odisha Coast.

Sea condition is very likely to be rough to very rough along and off Odisha coast, the Met office said.

Fishermen are advised not to venture into sea off the Odisha coast.

As a precautionary measure, the state government has already issued alert in at least 12 districts in coastal, southern and northern regions asking authorities to prepare for any eventuality, Chief Secretary A P Padhi said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed all the departments to remain alert to face any eventuality due to cyclone ‘Roanu’.

The chief minister also held a video conference meeting with the collectors of coastal and southern districts on Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, the state government has cancelled the leaves of government employees on Friday and Saturday which may be extended depending on the situation.

While 10 teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and fire service personnel have been kept ready, Padhi said, the government will arrange more personnel if required.

Image: Rains and thundershowers lash places in Ganjam, Khurda, Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, and Balasore in Odisha, disrupting normal life. Photograph: Reuters