By IANS
Bhubaneswar : A severe cyclonic storm over the southeast and adjoining central Bay of Bengal may miss Orissa coast, director of Bhubaneswar meteorological office S.C. Sahu said Wednesday.
As per the forecast, the cyclone may hit Bangladesh coast and influence heavy to very heavy rainfall at few places over coastal Orissa from Thursday afternoon, Sahu told IANS.
The cyclone is now centred about 700 km south southeast of Paradeep and is likely to intensify in northerly direction. It may cross West Bengal-Bangladesh coast near Sagar Islands by Friday morning, he added.
Squally winds with speed reaching up to 50-60 kmph are likely along and off Orissa coast commencing from the same period, Sahu said.
Sea will be rough during this period and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the open sea, the official said.
Distant Warning Signal Number Two has been kept hoisted at Paradeep and Gopalpur Ports.
Chief Minster Naveen Patnaik has instructed district administration of the eight coastal districts to remain alert. Rapid Disaster Action Force battalions have already been moved to the cyclone prone districts, Patnaik said.
“We have asked the district officials to keep adequate food stocks and medicines,” state Revenue Minister Manmohan Samal said.