Edu institutes to remain shut in 11 dists of Odisha

Bhubaneswar, September 26

In view of cyclonic storm ‘Gulab’ which is likely to make landfall on Sunday evening, the Odisha government has announced closing down of schools and other educational institutions in 11 districts of the state on Monday.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the preparedness made for the cyclone Gulab through video conferencing with 11 district collectors from New Delhi.

He also directed the collectors of Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal, Malkangiri, Khordha, Puri, Nayagah and Kalahandi districts to keep schools and other educational institutions closed on Monday in view of the cyclone.

The Chief Minister has also directed collectors to take appropriate decisions regarding closure of schools and educational institutions on Tuesday depending on the situation in their respective districts.

Stressing on zero casualty, Patnaik asked the collectors of likely affected districts to ensure evacuation of people living in low-lying areas, slopes and other vulnerable pockets.

The cyclone is lay centered about 140 km from Gopalpur of Odisha coast and is likely to make landfall between Gopalpur and Kalingapatnam of Andhra Pradesh Sunday evening, said India Meteorological Department (IMD).

“The landfall process will start from evening around 6 p.m. and will complete by midnight (12 a.m.). The windfall speed will gradually increase in the landfall area. During the landfall, the wind speed will be 75-85 kmph gusting to 95 kmph,” said Director General of IMD, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra. IANS