The cyclonic storm Hudhud tearing its way through Andaman and Nicobar Islands is heading for the same area along Andhra-Odisha coast that had been ravaged by its predecessor Phailin last year.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday predicted that the cyclone would accelerate further to a very severe cyclone during the next 12 hours. The landfall being projected is at least two days away. The given time and space is further expected to strengthen the system getting fuelled by the warm seas of Bay of Bengal
Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth reviewed the preparedness for the cyclone which is likely to hit the two states on Sunday. As the head of the National Crisis Management Committee, the Cabinet Secretary asked the representatives of all central ministries, departments and Chief Secretaries of the state governments concerned to take necessary steps for preparedness to meet any eventuality from the cyclone.
According to IMD, the cyclone from east central Bay of Bengal has moved west-northwestward and lay centered at about 700 km southeast of Gopalpur and east-southeast of Visakhapatnam. The system would continue to move west-northwestwards.
The Met Department has issued a heavy rainfall warning for north Andhra Pradesh coast and south Odisha. Under the influence of the system, rainfall at most places with heavy (6.5 - 12.4 cm) to very heavy falls (12.5 - 24.4 cm) at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls (> 24.5 cm) would occur over south Odisha from the evening of October 11 onwards.
Rainfall would occur at most places with heavy rainfall to very heavy rainfall at a few places would also commence over Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram, Srikakulam districts of north coastal Andhra.According to the Met Department, squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph would commence along and off north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts from the morning of October 11. The wind speed would increase to 130-140 kmph gusting to 150 kmph from October 12.