Cyclone Gulab likely to hit Odisha and Andhra Pradesh today

Odisha: Cyclone Gulab is predicted to hit Odisha and Andhra Pradesh on Sunday evening. Both the states are put on orange alert.

The cyclonic storm is expected to make landfall between Gopalpur (Odisha) and Kalingapatanam in Andhra Pradesh with wind speeds of up to 95 kmph, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned.

The states are reviewing rescue team and making preparation for relief efforts. Currently, the cyclone ‘Gulab’, as named by Pakistan, was about 180 km east-southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha and 240 km east of Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, the IMD said in its latest update on the cyclonic storm.

ANI reported this morning, Thirteen teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in Odisha and five in Andhra Pradesh according to Satya Narayan Pradhan, Director General of the relief force.

Train services have been cancelled, diverted or rescheduled as a precautionary measure to the cyclone.

Extreme weather is expected, heavy rainfall is likely to occur in parts of south Odisha and north coastal Andhra Pradesh, the Indian Meteorological Department said in its bulletin.

Evacuation drives are initiated in seven identified districts in the southern parts of the state. The maximum focus is on Ganjam and Gajapati districts, which are likely to be severely affected by the cyclonic storm.

According to an official, at least 15 rescue teams have been deployed in Ganjam alone. More than 100 fire brigade teams and 42 teams of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force have also been sent to Gajapati, Ganjam, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, and Kandhama districts, PTI reported.

Meanwhile in Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy held a meeting with officials on Saturday to review preparations for the cyclone, PTI reported.