Bhubaneswar, Sep 18 (PTI) The Odisha government has put 20 districts on alert and asked 10 others to remain vigilant in view of an impending low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal that is likely to intensify into a depression, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Friday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said an upper-air cyclonic circulation over north Thailand was likely to emerge over the north Andaman Sea on Friday evening and trigger the formation of a low-pressure area over the region on Saturday evening.
“Thereafter, it is likely to intensify gradually and move towards south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coasts during subsequent 3-4 days,” Manorama Mohanty, director of the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, said.
Mohanty said IMD scientists were closely monitoring the system and would issue further updates as it evolves.
While the system was likely to intensify into a depression, the weather office had not made any clear forecast on whether it would develop into a cyclonic storm, she said.
“There is nothing to be panicked over the weather system. IMD will inform people at an appropriate time if the system intensifies further. However, intense rainfall activities will begin across south Odisha from September 22,” Mohanty said.
Pujari said the state government was prepared to deal with the situation, noting that some weather models indicated the possibility of a cyclone.
Pujari said 20 districts had so far been issued a yellow alert for heavy rain, with rainfall of 7 cm to 11 cm expected.
The warning could be revised after the low-pressure area forms on Saturday evening, he said.
A meeting of senior officials, including Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh P Patil, was held and directions were communicated to district collectors, the minister said.
Meanwhile, the IMD issued an orange alert for thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds in 15 districts during the next 24 hours.
The districts are Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj.
Heavy rain is likely at isolated places in Mayurbhanj, for which a yellow warning has been issued. Heavy rain is also likely in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj on September 19 and 20, the IMD said.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph are also likely in several parts of the state.
A yellow alert has been issued for several districts for thunderstorms from September 20 to 22.
For September 22-23, an orange warning has been issued for Subarnapur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangapur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam for thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds.
The IMD has also forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts till September 25. PTI AAM AAM MNB
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