Bhubaneswar: The path of cyclone Jawad projected by India Meteorological Department (IMD) shows that it is very likely to cross the Odisha coast in Puri district from a close distance.
As per the latest bulletin of IMD, the cyclone is likely to make landfall by December 5 noon before recurving north, north-east and heading towards West Bengal and Bangladesh. However, no exact place of landfall has been predicted so far, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Jena here Friday.
Either it may make landfall or touch the coast near Puri or somewhere north south. Still, the State machinery is being prepared assuming that the system will hit someplace near the Odisha coast, he said.
Keeping in mind that the cyclone may hit any parts of the Odisha coast from Ganjam to Jagatsinghpur, the Odisha Government is making preparations, informed Mr.Jena.
The Odisha Government has deployed 247 relief and rescue teams in various places of the State. Another 19 teams have been kept on reservation for any emergency requirement, he said.
Mr.Jena has reviewed the cyclone preparedness with the Collectors of all the districts likely to be affected by the cyclonic storm for the deployment of teams in vulnerable areas.
The district collectors of Ganjam, Khordha, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack have been asked to evacuate the persons from the low lying areas. The evacuation process will start tomorrow.
Mr.Jena said after hitting the coast, the system may again divert to sea. There is also a possibility of the cyclonic system not hitting the coast if it changes its path further.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack Khordha, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Malkangiri, Keonjhar, Anugul Dhenkanal and Nayagarha from December 3 to 5 next.
Met department said squally wind speed reaching 45-55 KMPH gusting to 65KMPH is likely to commence along and off north Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coasts from the midnight of December 3 and increase gradually to 80-90KMPH gusting to 100 KMPH from the evening of December 4 for the subsequent 12 hours.
As the sea condition would be rough fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea from December 3 to 5. Distance cautionary signal No 1 has been hoisted in all ports of the state. Mr.Jena said all fishermen who were in the sea had already returned to the coast.
The SRC advised people to store drinking water for two days and not to resort to panic buying essential commodities stating that there is enough stock of goods in the market.
In view of the possible cyclonic storm, the east coast railway has cancelled more than 90 trains passing and originating from its jurisdiction for two days beginning tomorrow for the safety of the passengers.
The authorities have closed the Similipal for the tourists on December 4 and 5. The State government has cancelled the weekly off of all of its officials.
The International Sand Festival and the Konark Dance Festival being held on Chandrabhaga beach in Konark, Puri from December 1 are being called off with immediate effect. The state government has banned fishing all along the Odisha coast.
