Amidst the fear of Cyclone Kyant, the State Government on Tuesday said the cyclonic storm formed over the Bay of Bengal, would not touch Odisha though it is expected to bring heavy rains in the coastal areas.
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra asserted that the Kyant
would not hit the Odisha coast as it has re-curved towards Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
“As per the latest update of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Kyant which was heading towards Myanmar has re-curved and is moving towards southwest. It is not touching Odisha but is likely to touch Andhra. But rains will occur in coastal belt of Odisha due to the impact of the passing cyclone,” said the SRC after a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to take stock of the Government’s preparedness.
However, district Collectors, particularly of 14 coastal and its adjoining districts, have been asked to ensure that the harvested crops are gathered and
kept at safe places so as to minimise the loss, said Mohapatra.
Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi, among many senior officials from police and other line departments were present at the meeting.
“Though there will be no impact of the cyclone on Odisha, there will be rains in the coastal belt on October 27 and 28. Extension of the cloud band will cause rains mainly in the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Khordha, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Nayagarh, Rayagada, Kandhamal, etc,” said Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre Director Sarat Sahu.
leave of the Government officials, including medical and paramedical staffs have been cancelled. District-level control rooms have been activated 24X7. District-level officials have been asked to stay in their headquarters on October 29 and 30 till further orders.
“The cyclonic storm on Tuesday lay centered at about 710 km east-southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha. The storm is expected to move initially west-northwestwards and then to west to west-southwestwards towards west-central Bay of Bengal during next 72 hours, said an IMD bulletin.
‘Squally winds with speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph are very likely to commence along and off the Odisha and north coastal Andhra Pradesh coasts from October 27 onwards. Fishermen are advised not to venture into sea along and off the Odisha and north coastal Andhra Pradesh coasts from October 27 onwards,” the bulletin added.