Bhubaneswar, May 17 (UNI) The Odisha government today alerted 12 coastal districts and deployed Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Fire and Disaster Management as the cyclonic storm "Amphan" intensified in to a very severe cyclonic storm.

Ten NDRF teams and 15 ODRAF units have been pre-positioned in 6 coastal and 4 nearby districts to undertake required preparedness measures to effectively handle the cyclonic storm AMPHAN.

Special Relief Commissioner(SRC) office sources here said 12 coastal and adjoining districts (Gajapati, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Puri, Khordha, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj) have been alerted.

Special Relief Commissioner P K Jena said Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts have been instructed to remain fully prepared as these four districts are more vulnerable to the cyclonic storm.

He said 20 teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), 17 Teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 335 units of Fire and Disaster Management are in readiness to be pressed into service.

The state government, Mr.Jena said is prepared to accommodate nearly 11 lakh people in 12 districts , maintaining the social distancing norms.
Excluding the Multipurpose Cyclone shelters and Flood Shelters currently being used as Temporary Medical Camps,for COVID-19, a total of 567 of thm and 7092 other permanent buildings have been directed to make arrangement for Food, Drinking Water, Lighting, Sanitation and Health facility to meet any eventuality.

The latest IMD ulletin said the Severe Cyclonic Storm ' AMPHAN' over central parts of South Bay of Bengal has further intensified into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm

It is very likely to intensify further into a Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 24 hours and move nearly northwards slowly during next 12 hours .

It would then re-curve north-northeastwards and move fast across northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal – Bangladesh coasts between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) during the Afternoon / Evening of May 20.


The District Administration of vulnerable districts have been directed to keep Multipurpose Cyclone and Flood Shelters in readiness and to identify other suitable RCC roofed public buildings for use as safe shelters in case of requirement.

Hospitals, mobile health teams have been organized for deployment to affected areas. Power back up arrangement has also been made in all hospitals, the SRC sources said.

Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) and Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) have taken advance action for mobilizing technical gangs and materials to take up the restoration immediately after the cyclone.

As power supply is likely to be shut down before the cyclone, the life line institutions including Government offices have been asked to make power back up arrangement (Gen set with sufficient fuel)

Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have been asked to take advance action to arrange DG sets and store sufficient quantity of fuel to keep the mobile towers functioning if electricity supply is disrupted due to cyclone.

They have also been asked to organize and keep some Cell-on- Wheels for deployment if required and adequate spares for restoration of telecom service. Steps would be taken to send early warning messages through SMS to people of likely affected areas.

Generators have been organized for operating the rural piped water supply projects in absence of electricity. Tankers are also kept ready for supply of drinking water.

The authorities completely banned fishing from May 18. Fishermen on sea have been informed to come back to shore by today. .
As per information received all fishermen in Dhamra area of Bhadrak district have already returned to the shore.

Some of the Medium reservoirs in the districts likely to be affected by the cyclone have been depleted keeping in view the heavy rainfall likely to be received due to the cyclone.

The Collectors, State Disaster Response Forces and other officers having Satellite Phones have been directed to recharge and keep the phones ready for use.

Met sources said the Coastal Odisha is likely to experience light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy falls at isolated places from tomorrow evening.

Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places on May 19 and isolated heavy rainfall over north coastal Odisha on May 20.

Squally wind speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely along and off south Odisha coast from tomorrow evening and will further extended along & off north Odisha coast from May 19 morning.

The wind speed will gradually increase becoming gale wind speed reaching 75 to 85 kmph gusting to 95 kmph from May 20 morning along and off north Odisha coast.

It will gradually increase thereafter becoming 110 to 120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph along & off North Odisha coast.

Sea condition will very high over central parts of south Bay of Bengal and adjoining central Bay of Bengal during next 24 hours.

It will become phenomenal over southern parts of central Bay of Bengal from tonight, over northern parts of central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Bay of Bengal on May 19 and over north Bay of Bengal on May 20.

The fishermen are advised not to venture into north Bay of Bengal along and off North Odisha, West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh coasts during May 18 to 20.

Local cautionary signal number 2 has been hoisted in all major ports in the state .

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