Bhubaneswar, May 21: People in the coastal areas of the State heaved a sigh of relief as Cyclonic storm ‘Roanu’ over Bay of Bengal moved northeastwards without causing any major damage.
Rains coupled with gusty surface winds lashed several parts of Odisha as Roanu crossed Odisha coast even as the State government remained alert putting men and machinery in place to deal with any exigency in the wake of the storm.
The system is likely moved at nearly 30km per hour speed northeastwards along and off Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast intensifying into a severe cyclonic storm.
According to Meteorological centre here, the system is likely to cross south Bangladesh coast between Khepupara and Cox’s Bazar by early morning of May 22 as a cyclonic storm.
The cyclone induced heavy rain and thundershower at many places in Ganjam, Khurda, Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, and Balasore in Odisha, disrupting normal life, the weatherman said adding heavy to very heavy rain is likely at a few places over coastal Odisha and heavy to very heavy at one or two places over interior Odisha during next 48 hours.
In view of the weather conditions, Distant Warning Signal Number Two (DW-II) was replaced by Local Cautionary Signal Number Three (LC-III) at all ports in the State. Gusty surface wind from Southeasterly direction with 60 to 70 kmph speed and gusting to 80 kmph in South Odisha Coast, and 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph in North Odisha Coast would prevail along and off Odisha Coast.
Sea condition was rough to very rough along and off Odisha coast, the Met office said advising fishermen not to venture into sea.
As a precautionary measure, the state government had issued alert in at least 12 districts in coastal, southern and northern regions asking authorities to prepare for any eventuality, Chief Secretary AP Padhi said. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed all the departments to remain alert to face any eventuality due to cyclone ‘Roanu’.
While 10 teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and fire service personnel were kept ready, the government was ready to arrange more personnel if required.
