Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday forecasted that the cyclonic storm ‘Gulab’ is likely to hit the coasts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh somewhere between Gopalpur-Kalingapatnam on 26 September at a speed of 95 km per hour.
The deep depression has intensified into cyclonic storm and lay centred about 370 km east-southeast of Gopalpur and 440 km east of Kalingapatnam.
Informing about the cyclone, Director General, IMD Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said “The system is likely to cross the North Andhra Pradesh and South Odisha coasts by the evening of September 26 with a wind speed ranging 75-85 kmph, gusting to 95 kmph, accompanied by heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of the states.”
As per the forecast the cyclonic storm is likely to affect Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, while Ganjam and Gajapati in Odisha.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall forecast in Kandhamal, Ganjam, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Gajapati from September 26 to 27 morning.
IMD has issued a yellow warning and heavy rainfall forecast in Kendrapada, Jagatsingpur, Puri, Khurda, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Kandhamal and Cuttack till Sunday morning.
The government authorities of both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are on high alert and have started taking precautionary measures to protect people to be affected in the expected path of the cyclonic storm.
NDRF has already deployed 18 teams for the two states and a few teams are on standby for the rescue operation. Army and Navy have also been deployed along the coasts of both the states.