Samikhsya Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Nov 9 Heavy rain accompanying by wind reaching over 100kmph uprooted several trees, damaged electric poles in coastal and north Odisha as the severe cyclonic storm Bulbul moved close to the Paradip coast today. Special Relief Commissioner P K Jena said the coastal districts of Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore and parts of Jajpur are experiencing heavy rainfall and gusty winds since midnight last night due to impact of the severe cyclonic storm Bulbul.
Odisha government, he said has evacuated more than 2,500 people to safe places from the districts of Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore and Bhadrak district. Hundreds of trees were uprooted, electric poles damaged as rains accompanying by wind speed reaching over 100 kmph Severe cyclonic storm Bulbul hit the coast. Mr Jena said, maximum number of 1,100 people were evacuated from Kendrapara district.
Dhamra in Odisha’s Bhadrak district recorded a wind speed of 110 Kmph and Rajnagar in Kendrapara received a maximum rainfall of 180mm during the last 24 hours. The SRC said, there was no reports of any human casualties from anywhere in the state. The government has evacuated more than 2,500 people to safe places from the districts of Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore and Bhadrak district, he remarked.
Several trees were uprooted and blocked roads in places and some electric poles were damaged in the cyclone in Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Bhadrak districts. As many as 150 Fire Bridage team are also engaged in cutting trees and clearing the obstruction from roads. The NDRF and ODRAF teams deployed in the coastal Odisha have already started the road clearing operation.
The SRC said the rescue and relief team of Dhamara Marine police team and ODRAF team have rescued eight boatmen safely who had gone for fishing last evening ignoring the government’s warning. But their boat was capsized. Chief Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy said, as per the preliminary assessment 30 to 40 per cent of crop in around six lakh hectares of land was damaged in the cyclone.
Mr Tripathy said the state government would request the central government to send an advance team to assess the damage. Met sources said, cyclone Bulbul is moving northwards at a speed of 12kmph. It is likely to cross West Bengal and Bangladesh Coast between Sagar Island and Khepupara Bangladesh across Sunderban delta by late evening.
Mr Jena said the impact of the storm will be felt in Odisha for four to five hours more. The IMD has advised to suspend fishing operation in North coastal district till tomorrow morning. The Fire Services personnel have been deployed in these 10 districts while two additional Fire Services teams from other districts have been deployed in six seaside districts.
At least 60 Fire Services personnel are kept in readiness with vehicles and equipment in Bhubaneswar for deployment to provide emergency service. The Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment department has asked the farmers to take necessary measures and keep the paddy in safe places. All schools and anganwadi centres in 10 coastal districts have been closed for two days on November 8 and 9.
