With the very severe cyclonic storm lehar moving towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, the Odisha Government on Tuesday rushed disaster management personnel to 10 districts to tackle flash floods in the event of heavy rains and took measures to protect standing crops.
“According to the IMD prediction, cyclone lehar will not have much impact on the State. However, we have to remain prepared for the flash floods due to the possible heavy rains in southern districts due to the cyclone,” said Development Commissioner I Srinivas after attending a review meeting by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
He said the Chief Minister has directed to rush personnel of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) to 10 districts, Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Balangir and Subarnapur, Puri and Khurda.
“Besides, the district Collectors have also been asked to take steps to protect the standing crop in the field as they may be affected due to heavy rainfall,” the Development Commissioner said, adding that the Government is fully prepared to face the situation.
Meanwhile, a bulletin issued by the IMD said the lehar over the southeast Bay of Bengal moved westwards with a speed of 15 kmph during past six hours and lay centred at 11.30 am on Tuesday over the southeast Bay of Bengal near latitude 12.50 N and longitude 89.50 E, about 900 km southeast of Gopalpur.
“The system would intensify further and move west-northwestwards and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada around November 28 noon,” it said, adding that Distant Warning Signal Number Two (DW-II) has been kept hoisted at Paradip and Gopalpur Ports in Odisha.
Fishermen who are in the deep sea were advised to return to the coast immediately. Sea condition would be rough to very rough after 12 hours, it said.