The low pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression and is likely to take the form of a cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours and reach Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast on December 4, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its bulletin on Thursday.

According to the IMD bulletin issued on Friday morning, at 11:30 pm on Thursday, the depression lay centered over Bay of Bengal near Latitude 12.0°N and Longitude 87.5°E, about 770 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).

The IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rain in coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Gangetic West Bengal over the weekend due to the cyclone.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 32 teams in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal (8). The Indian Army and Navy teams are also ready along with their ships and aircraft.

STATES BRACE FOR CYCLONE JAWAD

ODISHA

The Odisha government has geared up its preparedness by keeping adequate men, machinery and logistics ready to tackle the possible challenged arising due to the cyclone.

Odisha special relief commissioner (SRC) PK Jena said the state government has kept 249 teams comprising 17 of NDRF, 60 of ODRAF, and 172 teams of fire service personnel ready and has deputed them to the districts for deployment.

PK Jena said that the state government has ensured that all fishermen returned to the shore by Thursday evening, adding that if any fisherman is in the sea, he will certainly return to the shore by Friday morning.

The Odisha government has prohibited fishing activities in the Bay of Bengal and Chilika Lake for three days from December 3. Additionally, all coastal districts have been directed to remain alert and farmers have been asked to harvest their paddy crops.

The district collectors of some vulnerable districts have been asked to evacuate people from low-lying areas and those living in kutcha houses due to fear of tidal surge during the possible cyclone, PK Jena added.

The weather department has forecasted extreme rainfall activities from Friday and wind speed reaching 100 kmph when the cyclone reaches close to Odisha coast on Saturday. However, the IMD has yet to give details about the possible place of the land fall of the cyclone.

ANDHRA

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting with district collectors of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Vishakapatnam and discussed the precautionary measures to be taken in view of Cyclone Jawad.

The chief minister directed the officials to set up relief camps at required locations. He also instructed the officials to be on alert in low-lying areas and ensure no one is troubled due to cyclone.

The state government has appointed special officers for Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Vishakapatnam districts to monitor relief measures.

WEST BENGAL

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a high level meeting and took stock of the cyclone preparedness in the state.

The government later issued a notice asking fishermen to not venture into sea due to formation of a low pressure area in west-central Bay of Bengal.

“Those fishermen who have already gone to deep sea are being urged to return at the earliest,” the notice said.

RAILWAY CANCELS TRAINS DUE TO CYCLONE JAWAD

The East Coast Railways has cancelled 95 trains operating in its jurisdiction for three days and has also geared up its disaster management tools in view of the possible cyclone.

As a precautionary measure for the safety of passengers, 95 mail and express trains originating from different places and passing through the region have been cancelled from December 2-4, an ECoR statement said.

The South Central Railways has also cancelled 41 trains in view of Cyclone Jawad.