Odisha govt preparing to meet possible cyclone Amphan

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has started taking steps to meet the possible cyclone situation in the state.

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Jena informed that 12 districts of coastal Odisha have been asked to remain prepared for the possible cyclone situation.

Chief secretary Asit Tripathy on Friday held a meeting with the concerned officials in this regard, which was attended by four district collectors of north Odisha through video-conferencing.

Tripathy discussed with the district collectors of Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Balasore and Bhadrak extensively about the measures to be taken for the possible cyclone.

“The government is prepared to meet the possible cyclone,”said the SRC.

He, however, said there is no clear picture yet on the track, speed and landfall of the cyclone Amphan.

It is assumed that it could hit north coastal Odisha or West Bengal or Bangladesh. Collectors alerted to ready alternate centres (as cyclone shelters have been converted into COVID TMCs) in case of an emergency, said the SRC.

The low pressure system over southeast Bay of Bengal is expected to concentrate into a depression today evening or night and further intensify into a cyclonic storm over south and adjoining central parts of Bay of Bengal by tomorrow evening, informed IMD.