Cyclone Alert: Odisha SRC Advises Measures to Protect Crops

Bhubaneswar: The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), Odisha, through a letter directed the collectors of coastal districts like Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, and Ganjam to remain alert in view of the IMD’s weather forecast regarding formation of a cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal.

In another communiqué, the SRC stated, “In view of the anticipated rainfall prediction, it is requested to issue the required advisory to field functionaries for dissemination to farmers for taking appropriate preventive steps to protect paddy and other crops.”

The Odisha Fisheries Department has been directed to ensure the communication of warning/alert messages to fishermen. The F&ARD department has been directed to furnish the status of fishermen and boats plying in the sea and the details of boats and fishermen returned.

As per the IMD forecast Wednesday, a marked low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal is likely to move west-northwestwards and it may intensify into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal around November 30. Thereafter, it is likely to move northwestwards and intensify further into a cyclonic storm over the southwest and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal during the subsequent 48 hours.