The Odisha government on Sunday advised all the fishermen in coastal districts not to venture into the sea till Saturday, as an upper air cyclonic circulation over North Andaman Sea is likely to turn into a cyclonic storm and pass through Odisha and West Bengal coast by Thursday.
After attending a review meeting in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, Odisha special relief commissioner Deoranjan Kumar Singh said the upper air cyclonic circulation over North Andaman Sea is likely to turn into a depression over Bay of Bengal in next 12 hours.
“There is a possibility of it turning into a cyclonic storm by October 23 over East-central Bay of Bengal. Thereafter, it is very likely to move northwestwards and reach northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha-West Bengal coasts by 24th October morning. Though it would be too early to say whether it would become a cyclone we are asking all fishermen not to venture into the sea till Saturday. Those fishermen who have ventured into the sea should come back quickly,” he said.
Singh said under the influence of the system, very heavy rainfall is likely to begin in the coastal districts of Puri, Ganjam and Jagatsinghpur from October 23. A day later, the districts of Kendrapara, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Balasore, Kandhamal and Khurda are likely to receive heavy rain.
“Though it is difficult to say whether the system would turn into a cyclone, we are keeping a close watch on it and have asked the district collectors to keep the cyclone shelters ready. The fire services and ODRAF forces have been asked to be in readiness,” he said.