Cyclone BulBul: Odisha declares closure of schools in eight districts for two days, deploys NDRF, ODRAF teams

Bhubaneswar, Nov 08 (UNI) Odisha government today deployed NDRF and ODRAF teams in nine districts, announced closure of all schools in eight districts and alerted the district collectors to take all possible measures in view of heavy rains likely to be triggered by severe cyclonic storm Bulbul.

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradip Jena said the Collectors were asked to remain alert and take necessary steps to tackle the situation. The District collectors have also been instructed to carry out evacuation of people, if needed as heavy rains will lash several parts of Odisha. He said two ODRAF teams and one NDRF team had been deployed each in nine districts.

Schools in Kendrapara, Puri, Balasore, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Jagatsinghpur have been closed two days from tomorrow as a precautionary measure.

Meteorological sources said that Bulbul has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and likely to move towards West Bengal and Bangladesh.
The severe cyclonic storm Bulbul will trigger heavy rainfall in Bhadrak, Balasore,Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur while moderate rain fall likely to occur in Mayurbhanj and jajpur district.

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, PK Mishra today held a high-level meeting with Odisha Chief Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy to review preparedness to deal with any possible calamity calamity.

Official sources said all schools and Anganwadi centres in the eight districts will remain closed on November 8 and 9.According to IMD forecast, Cyclone Bulbul will trigger heavy to very heavy rainfall in north coastal districts in Odisha on November 8 and 9.