Bhubaneswar, October 25: Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Saturday reviewed the preparedness for Cyclone Montha with the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), district collectors and senior officials here.
“The state and district administrations are fully equipped to handle any situation arising from the impending cyclone,” said Pujari after the meeting.
Appealing to people not to panic, Pujari said, “Both the State and district administrations are fully equipped to handle any situation arising from the impending cyclone. The system is likely to impact Odisha on October 28 and 29, particularly south and coastal Odisha.”
He said that decision on closure of schools and cancellation of leaves of Government employees will be taken tomorrow once the situation becomes clearer.
“The cyclone is changing direction at times, but even if it alters its course, the Government is fully prepared to tackle the situation in all the 30 districts of the State. Decision on closure of schools and cancellation of leaves of Government employees will be taken tomorrow,” said Pujari.
“We have made our preparations based on past experiences and possible scenarios. Collectors will take review meetings this afternoon to take stock of the preparedness. All fishermen have been asked to return from the sea. District collectors have been instructed to take precautionary measures in areas prone to landslides,” added Minister Pujari.
Meanwhile, the Special Relief Commissioner Deoranjan Kumar Singh said (SRC) advised the public to remain vigilant, not fearful.
The cyclone ‘Montha’ is set to hit Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28. As a result, south Odisha is likely to face heavy rainfall and strong winds.
As per the India Meteorological Department’s forecast, the weather system over the Bay of Bengal will move west-northwestwards, gradually intensifying into a deep depression by October 26.
It is expected to strengthen further into a cyclonic storm over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 27.
By October 28 morning, the system is likely to develop into a severe cyclonic storm, moving north-northwestwards and making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada, during the evening or night of October 28 with maximum sustained wind speeds of 90–100 kmph, with gusts up to 110 kmph.
