Even as people in Odisha are in panic over the impending Cyclone Sitrang in the Bay of Bengal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday said the cyclone would skip the Odisha coast and head towards West Bengal and Bangladesh.

However, the system has the potential of triggering moderate to heavy rainfall in the State from October 23 to 25, it forecasted.

IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra  said the low pressure would concentrate into a depression over east-central and adjoining south east Bay of Bengal after moving west-northwestwards around October 22 and further intensify into a deep depression on October 23.

The system is very likely to re-curve northwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm over west-central and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal by October 24.

According to Mohapatra, it is likely to move gradually north-northeastwards and reach near West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts on October 25 skipping the Odisha coast. During its course, it would skirt away from the Odisha coast, but the sea conditions would be rough from October 21 onwards till October 25.

“There is no possibility of the cyclonic storm hitting the Odisha coast; but as the system will be close to the coast, coastal districts of the State are likely to experience moderate to heavy rainfall activities from October 23,” said Mohapatra.

He said the intensity of rainfall would be more in coastal Odisha districts on October 24 and 25 with the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall activities.

On cyclone’s track and intensity, Mohapatra said, “We have not made any forecast regarding its intensity and path. Only after the system develops into a depression, we will share more details in this regard."