Cyclonic storm Jawad weakened into a deep depression on 5.30 pm on Saturday and is expected to make a landfall near Puri in Odisha on Sunday. It is currently about 180 km east-southeast of Vishakhapatnam. At 5:30 am on Saturday, the cyclonic storm lay centered over westcentral Bay of Bengal about 230 km southeast of Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, and 410 km south-southwest of Puri, Odisha, the IMD said in a statement.
“It is likely to weaken gradually and move nearly northwards during the next 12 hours and then north-northeastwards along the coast of Odisha, reaching near Puri around December 5 noon as a deep depression. Subsequently, it is likely to weaken further and continue to move north-northeastwards along the coast of Odisha towards the coast of West Bengal,” it said. The name of the cyclone — ‘Jawad’ — has been proposed by Saudi Arabia.
A low-pressure area had developed over the Andaman Sea on November 30. It intensified into a depression on December 2 and further into a deep depression on Friday morning. It turned into a cyclone on Friday noon, the IMD said. Very heavy rainfall is likely to start in north coastal Andhra Pradesh and south coastal Odisha by Friday evening. The intensity of rainfall is likely to increase on Saturday, the Met office had said Friday. A red colour warning has been issued for Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts for Saturday. The red colour warning has also been issued for Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha.
The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over West Bengal on Saturday and Sunday, and heavy rainfall at isolated places over Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura on Sunday and Monday. Sea conditions will remain unsafe for shipping and fishermen in the central and north Bay of Bengal from Friday to Sunday.
There are no chances of a cyclonic storm in the West Bengal coast, the IMD said on Saturday afternoon, adding that cyclone Jawad will reach bengal as deep depression on Sunday evening, bringing rainfall to south and Gangetic Bengal. The windspeed will reach a maximum of 45kmph.
Union minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday reviewed the arrangements and preparations made by state governments of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal. Industry associations like CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM and PHD Chambers were also represented at the conference. The minister underscored the need for drawing of a comprehensive action plan towards managing this natural disaster in the most effective way by incorporating the inputs and suggestions of all stakeholders. Goyal said public private partnership is necessary for disaster management and mitigation and for protecting the lives and livelihoods of those affected.
“The cyclone was observed moving northwards in the past one hour and will continue the same way for the next 12 hours. There is a weakening trend in the intensity of the cyclone and it is expected to hit the coastal regions of Puri tomorrow and will weaken gradually,” said HR Biswas, Director, IMD Bhubaneshwar.
Both Andhra and Bengal governments are already preparing for the cyclone.
Eleven teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and three of the SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) have been positioned in the three north coastal Andhra districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam on Friday as the depression in the Bay of Bengal grew deeper. Also, six Coast Guard teams and 10 Marine police teams have been kept ready for emergency operations, according to Chief Secretary Sameer Sharma.
Though the storm is headed towards Odisha and is likely to cross the coast near Puri, official machinery in the north coastal Andhra districts has remained on alert as moderate to very heavy rainfall with wind speed up to 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph is expected. On Saturday, heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is forecast at isolated places in north coastal Andhra, according to a Met bulletin. Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy held a video conference with Collectors of the three north coastal districts and also East and West Godavari districts on Friday evening and reviewed the situation.
The southern part of West Bengal is also bracing for heavy to very heavy rainfall and gusty wind due to cyclone Jawad. The West Bengal government has started taking measures to combat the devastation. Inhabitants of the state’s low lying areas, mainly in South 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur districts, have been moved to higher lands and safe shelters, an official said.
NDRF and SDRF teams have been positioned at various places in coastal areas for timely rescue and relief operations. The Indian Coast Guard has tasked ships and aircraft to relay the weather warning to mariners and guided hundreds of fishing boats back to the harbours as a preemptive measure to ensure safety of fishermen, a Defence official said.
All The Latest Updates Related To Cyclone Jawad Are Here:
* In Odisha, schools are going to remain shut in 19 districts due to the forecast of heavy rainfall due to cyclone Jawad. Inhabitants of 41 coastal villages of Bhadrak districts have been moved to different shelters while following COVID-19 protocols.
* Indian navy on standby for rescue and relief operations. 13 flood relief teams, and four diving teams ready for action.
* Andhra government has already begun the evacuation process. Over 54,008 people from the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam have been moved. Approximately 197 relief camps have been set up in schools and community halls.
* According to a report in Mint, on Saturday, heavy to very heavy rain is likely to happen in Purba and Paschim Medinipur districts of Bengal. North and South 24 Parganas, Jhargram, Hooghly and Howrah are likely to experience heavy rainfall.
The report states, “On Sunday, heavy to very heavy rain is likely at one or two places in Kolkata, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, North and South 24 Parganas, Jhargram, Hooghly and Howrah districts.”
* More trains have been cancelled to ensure the safety of passengers and in view of Cyclone Jawad, it has been decided to cancel the following trains on 4th & 5th December, 2021.
* UGC-NET, IIFT Exam Postponed in Some Centres Over Cyclone ‘Jawad’.
Read all the Latest India News here
Comments
0 comment