Depression Over Bay 730Km From Odisha’s Paradip, Cyclone ‘Dana’ To Take Shape By Tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: The well-marked low pressure area over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal concentrated into a depression in the early hours of Tuesday.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the well-marked low-pressure area over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards, concentrated into a depression. It was about 730 km southeast of Paradip, 770 km south-southeast of Sagar Island and 740 km south-southeast of Khepupara (Bangladesh) at 5.30 am.

“It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 23 over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal. Thereafter, continuing to move northwestwards, it is very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over Northwest Bay of Bengal by October 24 morning and cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island during night of October 24 and morning of October 25as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph,” the IMD said in its morning bulletin.

The weather agency has predicted light to moderate rainfall at most places in Odisha with heavy rainfall at isolated places on October 23 and October 26. Heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur at a few places with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places on October 24-25. Red warning has been issued for Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsingpur, Jajpur and Cuttack on October 24 and Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Keonjhar on October 25.

The state government has announced closure of schools in 14 districts – Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Angul, Khurda, Nayagarh and Cuttack districts for three days, beginning October 23, as a precautionary measure against the cyclone. Leaves of government employees have also been cancelled during this period. “It has been decided to cancel leave of all government employees from 23rd October to 25th October in order to meet any untoward situation and all the employees should remain present in their headquarters,” the SRC said in a letter to all departments.

The Odisha government also urged tourists to leave the pilgrim town of Puri before the cyclone hits the state’s coast by October 24 night and October 25 morning.

Wind warning

On October 23, squally weather with wind speed 35 kmph to 45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph very likely to prevail over Andaman sea, most parts of Central Bay of Bengal, and North Bay of Bengal, along and off North Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Eest Bengal coasts. Squally weather with wind speed 45 kmph to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely to prevail over parts of Eastcentral, Westcentral & North Bay of Bengal. Strong winds with speed 50 kmph to 60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph is likely to prevail over many parts of Eastcentral, Westcentral and adjoining North Bay of Bengal. Gale winds with speed 65 kmph to 75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph is likely to prevail over many parts of Eastcentral & adjoining Eestcentral Bay of Bengal.

The wind speed may increase to 35 kmph to 45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph over most parts of Central and adjoining South Bay of Bengal, along and off north Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts on October 24. Squally weather with wind speed 45 kmph to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely to prevail over many parts of Westcentral & North Bay of Bengal and adjoining parts of Wastcentral, along and off Odisha, West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts. Strong winds with speed 50 kmph to 60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph is likely to prevail over many parts of Westcentral and adjoining Eastcentral and North Bay of Bengal. Gale winds with speed 60 kmph to 90 kmph gusting to 110 kmph is likely to prevail over many parts of Westcentral & northwest Bay of Bengal along and off Odisha, West Bengal coasts. Gale winds with speed 90 kmph to 110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph is likely to prevail over many parts of Westcentral & Morthwest Bay of Bengal along and off Odisha, West Bengal coasts.

On October 25, squally weather with wind speed 35 kmph to 45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph likely to prevail over most parts of Central, North Bay of Bengal, along and off north Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, west Bengal and Bangladesh coasts.

Squally weather with wind speed 45 kmph to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely to prevail over many parts of Central & Northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining parts of Eastcentral & Northeast Bay of Bengal, along and off Odisha, West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts. Strong winds with speed 50 kmph to 60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph is likely to prevail over many parts of Westcentral and adjoining Eastcentral and north Bay of Bengal. Gale winds with speed 60 kmph to 90 kmph gusting to 110 kmph is likely to prevail over many parts of Northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining parts of Northeast Bay of Bengal, along and off Odisha, West Bengal coasts. Gale winds with speed 90 kmph to 110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph is likely to prevail over Northwest along and off Odisha, West Bengal coasts.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into these areas during this period.