Odisha: Odisha Government has banned fishing in the sea and tourist entry to hills, waterfalls and dams in six districts as it stepped up precautionary measures for a cyclonic storm likely to make landfall in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh within 48 hours, officials said Monday, October 26, as reported by PTI.
Resources have been mobilised in the vulnerable southern districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur, the officials said. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has deputed eight ministers at separate places to monitor pre-cyclone activities, they added.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), Fire and Emergency Services and police have been pre-positioned at vulnerable areas, the officials said.
The cyclonic storm, “Arnab”, is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday, October 28, according to an India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast. In its Monday, October 26, morning bulletin, the IMD said the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal moved nearly westwards at 15 kmph during the past six hours and intensified into a cyclonic storm.
It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by midnight of October 26, and into a very severe cyclonic storm over the same region on October 27, the IMD said.
State Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the government would take no chances and remain fully prepared, though the system is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast. After landfall, the system is projected to move to certain areas within Odisha, PTI reported. Pujari said there was no reason to panic.
Schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in the six districts will remain closed on October 28 and October 29. Employees’ leave has been cancelled in these districts, and control rooms have been opened to coordinate relief and rescue, Pujari said.
The agriculture department has advised farmers to harvest and safely store crops that are 80-85 percent mature, and helpline numbers have been opened, the minister said.