Cyclone threat: 2000 evacuated

BHUBNESHWAR, Oct 17 (PTI) — The coastal districts of Orissa have been experiencing heavy rainfall since last night following a severe cyclonic storm over west Central Bay of Bengal.

The cyclonic storm, which lay centred 80 km south-east of Gopalpur port in Southern Orissa this afternoon, is likely to intensify further and move in a north westerly direction crossing the north Andhra Pradesh and Orissa coast between Kalingapatnam and Paradeep port tonight, according to the Meteorological office here.

Under its influence gale with wind speed reaching 180 km to 200 km per hour was expected to occur in the coastal districts of the state. Very heavy rainfall was likely to occur in all coastal districts while isolated areas in the interior areas would have heavy rains, the forecast said.

The cyclonic storm was expected to cause widespread damage in the coastal belt and disrupt communication system. Tidal waves of 2 to 2.5 metres above the normal tide was also expected.

The fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea wherein the condition was described as phenomenal.

Reports about waterlogging in low-lying areas in coastal districts were received here because of the rains which disrupted normal life.

HYDERABAD: A high alert has been sounded in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh and over 2000 people evacuated to safer places from Srikakulam district in view of a cyclonic storm in the Bay expected to cross the coast between Kalingapatnam and Paradeep, causing gales and rain in north coastal Andhra and south Orissa.

The cyclonic storm, centered at 100 km off Kalingapatnam, has intensified to a severe cyclonic storm and is likely to cross the coast tonight between Kalingapatnam and Paradeep causing widespread rains and gales in the region, weather office spokesman said.

Over 2,000 people from Bhavnpadu coastal village in Srikakulam district were evacuated to safer areas while the district administration was put on high alert in other coastal districts to meet any contingency, official sources here said.

Elaborate arrangements were made by the collectors of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts to evacuate people living in low-lying areas to safer places as the sea level was rising and gales with speeds reaching 180 kmph were blowing across the region.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu held teleconferences with the district collectors and reviewed the situation. He instructed the collectors to put the official machinery on high alert and open relief centres and control rooms to monitor the situation, an official release here said.

CALCUTTA: Cyclonic storm over the west central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north-west bay has further intensified and is likely to hit six West Bengal districts tonight, the met office here said.

Weathermen said at 0830 hours today the storm lay centred about 160 km south-south-east of Gopalpur in Orissa. It was likely to intensify further into a ‘very severe’ cyclonic storm and move in a north-westerly direction, crossing the sea coast between Kalingapatnam and Paradip by this evening or tonight.

Under its influence, heavy to very heavy rainfall would occur in the Midnapore, North and South 24 Parganas, Calcutta Howrah and Hooghly districts, they said.

Gale winds with speed ranging between 100 to 120 kmph would occur along and off the West Bengal coastline and the sea would be ‘high’ to ‘phenomenal,’ they said.

The met office has warned fishermen not to venture into the sea and emergency signal (No 3) has been hoisted at the Hooghly port system.

Threat of an impending cyclone notwithstanding, Durga Puja revellers braved sporadic morning drizzles to visit pandals on ‘mahashtami,’ second of the four-day Durga Puja celebrations.

The devout took to Puja ‘mandaps’ in large numbers to offer ‘pushpanjali’ in the morning and partake of ‘bhog’ (consecrated food). Community feasts were organised at many places.

In many private Pujas, the high-point of the ‘mahashtami’ celebrations was the ‘kumari puja’ where a young girl is worshipped as an embodiment of Goddess Durga.