New Delhi: With cyclone ‘Titli’ over the Bay of Bengal Wednesday intensifying into a very severe cyclonic storm and moving towards the coast, the Odisha government began evacuation of people in five coastal districts. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who took stock of the situation, asked the collectors of Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, Kendrapara and Jagtsinghpur districts to go for an immediate evacuation of people in low-laying areas in the coastal belt.
Chief secretary A.P. Padhi said the district administration of Ganjam has already started evacuating people in Gopalpur area, where ‘Titli’ is likely to make a landfall at about 5.30 am on Thursday. So far, about 1,000 people have been shifted to safer places, and immediate evacuation was being launched in view of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast of a tidal surge of about 1 m during landfall of cyclone ‘Titli’. He said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) personnel have already been positioned in vulnerable districts.
“We have not yet sought help of Army. If required we may go for it,” Padhi said responding to a question.
Chief minister Patnaik also asked the authorities to ensure “zero casualty” and keep the cyclone shelters ready for housing the people during disaster. He has ordered closure of all schools, colleges and anganwadi centres on Thursday and Friday in view of the IMD’s forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall across the state. The college students union elections, earlier scheduled to be held on Thursday, have also been cancelled.
The IMD said while wind speeds would reach 100kmph along Odisha’s south coast, it would remain within 75 kmph in the north. The storm is centred at about 530 km southeast of Gokalpur in Odisha and 80 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. The storm is likely to move north-northwestwards and cross Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh coast between Gopalpur and Kalingapatnam around Thursday morning, it said. Thereafter, it is likely to re-curve northeastward, move towards Gangetic West Bengal across Odisha and weaken gradually, said director of the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, H.R. Biswas. While several areas in coastal Odisha were lashed by rain on Wednesday, the IMD has forecast “heavy to very heavy rainfall” at several places and “extremely heavy rainfall” at isolated areas till Thursday under the impact of the very severe cyclonic storm.
Districts like Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Khurda, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall till Thursday, the IMD said. It also forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall for Kandhamal, Boudh and Dhenkanal district from Thursday. The IMD said rainfall would be accompanied by gale wind speed reaching 140 to 150 kmph and gusting to 165 kmph along and off Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh coasts.
The sea condition is very high over west-central Bay of Bengal. It is very likely to be phenomenal over the west-central and the adjoining north Bay of Bengal and along and off the south Odisha coast till Thursday, it said. Storm surge of about 1 metre above astronomical tide is very likely to inundate the low-lying areas of Ganjam, Khurda and Puri districts, it added.
The IMD advised a total suspension of fishing operations and shifting of coastal hutment dwellers to safe places. Fishermen along the Odisha coast, and central and north Bay of Bengal were advised not to venture into sea till Friday. In view of adverse weather conditions, it has advised hoisting of local warning signal LW-4 at all ports of Odisha.
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi said the Odisha government was prepared to face the possible floods in view of the heavy rainfall across the state. Sethi said the state government has already informed the Air Force and Indian Navy about the situation and may take their help if required.
Around 300 motor boats have been arranged to assist in rescue operation as there is a likelihood of flood situation due to possibility of heavy rains till October 11. All the 836 cyclone and flood shelters have also been kept prepared and adequate relief materials arranged, he said.
As reported by NDTV, special relief commissioner Bishnupada Sethi has directed officials to identify people residing near the coast on Ganjam, Khordha and Puri districts, and shift them to relief shelters.
“Since damage to thatched huts is expected in the districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Khordha, Nayagarh and Puri, people living in kuccha houses who are likely to be affected by the cyclone shall also be evacuated,” Sethi said.
(With PTI inputs)