Odisha Gears Up for Heavy Rains Due to Cyclone Michaung

Bhubaneswar: The severe cyclonic storm “Michaung” (pronounced as Migjaum) over west-central Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts lay centered at 0430 hours IST on Tuesday over west-central Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts, about 30 km northeast of Nellore, 130 km south-southwest of Bapatla, 190 km north of Chennai and 190 km south-southwest of Machilipatnam, the India, stated India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its morning bulletin on Tuesday.

The system is likely to move nearly northwards parallel and close to the south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam, close to Bapatla during the forenoon of December 5 as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph.

Because of this cyclone, rains have started in several parts of Odisha. The IMD has predicted for heavy rain in six coastal districts of the state on Tuesday.

The Regional Meteorological Center in Bhubaneswar has also issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rain in five districts of south Odisha. An orange alert has been issued for Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, and Koraput districts which may experience 70 to 200 mm of rainfall with a speed of 40 to 50 kmph.

Teams of ODRAF have been deployed in six districts and the fire brigades are put on alert. The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) convened an urgent meeting regarding the situation with various departments. The SRC also directed district collectors to remain alert.