Cyclonic storm Hudhud wind speed to be 80-90 kmph in Odisha

--Odisha people relatively relieved

  

BHUBANESWAR: People in most vulnerable districts in the State were a bit relaxed on Thursday after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that cyclone Hudhud was likely to make its landfall near Vishakhapatnam of Andhra Pradesh with a wind speed blowing at 80-90 km per hour in south Odisha. The cyclone in all likelihood would be of less intensity than the previous ones of 1999 and 2013. 

 

As a result of the storm, Vishakhapatnam, Vizianagram, Srikakulam and several other parts of the coastal areas of Andhra would be affected. It would mostly affect Odisha’s border areas with Andhra like Pottangi, Koraput, Narayanpatna and Jeypore in Koraput district, large parts of Malkangiri district as well as parts of Rayagada and Gajapati districts.

IMD sources said while south Odisha would experience a wind speed of 80-90 kmph, Andhra might experience it at 140 kmph, gusting to 155kmph.

Meanwhile, local Met centre issuing a bulletin at 8.30 pm predicted that the Hudhud over east-central Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards and lay centered at 5.30 pm on Thursday about 685 km southeast of Gopalpur. The system would continue to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm during next 12 hours. The system would cross north Andhra Pradesh coast around Visakhapatnam by Sunday forenoon, it added.

The bulletin also said squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph would commence along and off south Odisha coasts from October 11 morning onwards. The wind speed would increase to 80-90 kmph along and off south Odisha coast from Sunday morning, it added.

Rain or thundershower would occur at many places over Odisha during next 24 hours. Heavy rainfall may occur at one or two places over coastal Odisha over the same period. 

Meanwhile, the Distant Warning Signal Number 2 (DW-II) kept hoisted at the Paradip and Gopalpur Ports. Fishermen were advised not to venture into sea and those who are in deep sea were told to return to coast immediately.