Odisha  to deploy NDRF, ODRAF teams in coastal districts likely to hit by severe cyclonic storm Bul Bul

Bhubaneswar, Nov 07 (UNI) Odisha government today decided to deploy ODRAF and NDRF teams in the Coastal districts as a precautionary measure to undertake rescue and relief work, if needed, due to the impact of cyclonic storm Bul Bul. Special Relief Commissioner Pradip Jena said the authorities were requested  to send the ODRAF and NDRF team to the districts likely to be affected by this evening.

He said though the cyclonic storm is unlikely to make a land fall in Odisha coast but as per the prediction of the IMD it would  cause heavy rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places in north coastal districts for two days beginning from afternoon of November 8 next.

The SRC said  heavy rain will lash Puri, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur  and Kendrapara from afternoon of November 8. Heavy to very heavy  rainfall  is very likely to occur  at isolated places  over the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur,Mayurbhanj,Puri, Khurdha and parts of Nayagarha district on November 9.

Mr Jena said wind speeds reaching 70 to 80 KM gusting to 90KM per hour is per hour is likely to prevail over Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore and Bhadrak Districts on November 9 next. He said Puri, Ganjam,and Jajpur districts are  likely to experience squally wind speed reaching 40-50 KMPH gusting to 60 KMPH on November 8 and 9 next.

The SRC said the sea condition will be rough to very rough along and off Odisha Coast from November 8 onwards and becoming very high on November 9 and 10. He said both rain and wind is likely to decrease from November 10 onwards.  Mr.Jena  appealed to the people to remain alert as under ithe impact of cyclonic storm Bul Bul several trees , electric and telephone  poles,  might be uprooted and kutcha houses damaged .

The district Collectors were asked not to allow any fisherman to venture into the sea during the period. Various Fishermen Organisations were also  requested  to inform the fishermen who are already in sea to return by this evening. Mr Jena said so far 19,641 boats have already returned and 12 more would return by this evening.

The weather department issued a warning to hoist the Distant Warning Signal Number two in all ports of the state. The state Agriculture Department had  issued an  advisory and  alerted the farmers across the state  to shift their produce  to a safe place.

Meanwhile, Met sources here today said the  Cyclonic storm over east Central Bay of Bengal lay centered  about 680 KM South southeast of Paradip and is very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic  storm during the next 24 hours. The Met has issued yellow warning  for Puri, Kendrapara, jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak,Cuttack,Jajpur and Mayurbhanj  districts where  heavy rain fall is likely to occur at some places.’

Orange warning has been  issued  for Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts  where  heavy to heavy rain fall is likely to occur at several places. It is likely to move north-northwestwards towards West Bengal and  Bangladesh coasts.