Cyclone Titli has become a severe storm and is now centred about 320 km southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha) and 270 km southeast of Kalingapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).
As per weather reports in Visakhapatnam, it is very likely to intensify into a very severe cyclone in the next couple of hours and make a landfall between Gopalpur in Odisha and Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh on October 11 morning with wind speeds touching 145 kmph.
Thereafter, the cyclone is likely to re-curve in the northeast direction and might move towards Gangetic West Bengal across Odisha and weaken gradually. The speed of the system has triggered widespread rainfall along the coast of Odisha. Titli is likely to make a landfall at about 5.30 a.m. on October 11, Odisha Chief Secretary A.P. Padhi said.
Fishermen have been cautioned against venturing into the west-central and adjoining north Bay of Bengal, north Andhra Pradesh, Odisha,West Bengal coasts during next 48 hours. The coastal areas of Odisha and areas near Kalingapatnam may also witness tidal waves, said the weatherman.
Very severe cyclonic storm Titli over Bay of Bengal. Photo: Twitter/@Indiametdept
The National Disaster Management Authority, quoting a bulletin of the India Meteorological Department, said there may be damage in the districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam of Andhra Pradesh and Gajapati, Ganjam, Khurda, Nayagarh, and Puri districts of Odisha.
Here are the updates:
3 lakh evacuated in Odisha, NDRF forces rushed to coastal areas
Around 3 lakh people have been evacuated to safer places in Odisha ahead ahead of landfall, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik says.
The Centre has rushed nearly 1,000 NDRF personnel to Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Directions have been issued for storage of food, fuel and maintaining power supply and telecommunication lines.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 14 teams in Orissa and four teams in Andhra Pradesh along with necessary rescue equipments, an official statement said. A team of NDRF comprises around 45 personnel.
The Army, the Navy and the Coastguard have also been put on standby so that they can be deployed at short notice as per requirement.
Four fishermen missing in Odisha
Four fishermen from Odisha’s Kendrapara district who had ventured into the Bay of Bengal three days ago are missing, police say. The sea is unsteady due to the cyclonic weather.
The fishermen, who are from Mahakalpada tehsil and had gone to the sea in a mechanised vessel on October 7, the police say.
They had last contacted their family members on October 8 and had said that they were returning because of the cyclone warning, the police say. Rescue operations are yet to be begin due to the cyclonic weather, the police add.
Train services hit
Train services between Khurda Road in Odisha and Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh have been suspended in view of warnings on Titli, an official statement says.
The East Coast Railway says that to and fro trains between Khurda Road and Vizianagaram won't be allowed after 10 p.m. till further orders in view of the warning of a cyclonic storm.
Trains from Howrah/Kharagpur side will also not be allowed from Bhadrak till further notice.
Long distance trains that pass through between Khurda Road and Vizianagaram, on the Howrah-Chennai main line, may be diverted via Nagpur-Balharshah-Vijayawada route, if feasible. Some trains may be cancelled or cancelled partially, it adds.
The railways have cancelled five trains, diverted 15 and terminated three ahead of their destination.
Heavy rainfall warning in six West Bengal districts
The Regional Meteorological Department in Kolkata has warned of intense spells of thundershower accompanied by gusty winds in six southern districts of West Bengal for the next four days, triggered by Titli even as brief rain played spoilsport amid heightened Durga puja preparations across the State.
“Due to the cyclone, there will be moderate to heavy rainfall in the south Bengal districts from October 10 to 13, while the coastal districts like East and West Midnapore, North and South 24 Parganas, Hoogly and Howrah are likely to receive heavy rainfall,” a meteorological department official said.
According to the Met office, heavy to very heavy rainfall is on the cards for Kolkata and Howrah on October 12 and 13.
The department has asked fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the west Bengal coast, Odisha coast, and deep sea areas of North and Central Bay of Bengal till October 13.
“The clouds are likely to clear out from October 14, which means the weather will be good on the five days of Durga Puja festivity, to be held from October 15 to 19,” the official added.
Odisha Congress opens help cell
The Odisha unit of the Congress has opened a 24-hour emergency cell to help the people likely to be affected by Titli.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik, in a release, says the round-the-clock help cell will start functioning for a week from the evening of October 10 till October 16. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on October 9 urged the party’s State unit to extend help to those likely to be hit by the cyclone.
Mr. Patnaik said the people in the affected districts can contact on the mobile numbers — 7609852131, 8895203001, 9861011962, 7008799364, 9348161633, 8847858020, 9937948868 and 9237010939.
Don't go on panic buying, says Odisha Minister
Odisha’s Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister S.N. Patro has appealed to the people not to go for panic buying of essential commodities as Titli approaches the State’s coast. The people are not only buying extra provisions in view of the cyclone but also queuing up at petrol pumps to stock up on fuel.
The Minister says he has instructed all district collectors to keep a tab on the market as a section of traders are allegedly attempting to hoard essential items. The government will take stringent action against the hoarders, he says. “There are sufficient food materials in the state and the people should not go for panic buying in view of the cyclone,” Mr. Patro says. There is no need to procure more and people should purchase the required quantity of provisions, he adds.
Meanwhile, the apex body of traders in the State Odisha Byabasayi Mahasangha spokesman Sudhakar Panda says, “The market has enough food items in store. There should be no panic buying.”
Evacuation of people in five coastal districts
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 the 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 Thursday. So far, about 1,000 people have been shifted to safer place, he said.
Padhi said 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’
(With inputs from PTI, IANS )
Published - October 10, 2018 04:20 pm IST
