Bhubaneswar,October8: In a bid to face upcoming Cyclone Titli, Odisha government on Monday cancelled the holidays of Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) and Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA). Deputy Relief Commissioner Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra informed that every district collectors have been directed to stay alert and be in the district headquarters to face Cyclone Titli.
Mohapatra further said that the collectors have been asked not to give holidays to any employee of the SRC and OSDMA. Meanwhile, the Cyclonic Circulation which had developed over North Andaman Sea and adjoining areas had intensified into a Well-Marked Low Pressure Area, now has further intensified and shifted northwestwards and lies over east-central Bay of Bengal near Latitude 14.0°N and Longitude 88.8°E as a depression, about 720 km SSE of Gopalpur in Odisha, 690 km SE of Kalingapatinam in Andhra Pradesh
The system is in favourable conditions wherein the sea surface temperature is quite high and wind shear is also favourable. The system is very likely to intensify further into a Deep Depression during next 24 hours and into a Cyclonic Storm called Titli (name given by Pakistan) in the subsequent 24 hours.
Moreover, the system will move northwestwards towards Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 72 hours. Rainfall activity is expected over Odisha, West Bengal as well as North Coastal Andhra Pradesh around October 10, 11 and 12. Rains will be quite heavy to very heavy over the coastal regions of Odisha as well as adjoining West Bengal and isolated pockets of Andhra Pradesh.
Meanwhile, after the system becomes a Cyclone, it is expected to recurve and move towards Bangladesh giving heavy rains over the area. In fact, hefty showers are expected over Northeast India including Tripura and Mizoram in particular between October 11 and 13, while rainfall will remain moderate to heavy over Nagaland and Manipur as well. Currently, Cyclone Titli lay centred at about 720 km south-southwest of Gopalpur. Also Read: IMD Warns Of Heavy Rains In Kerala & TN; Navy On Alert.
Prasanta Patnaik