New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued a yellow cyclonic alert for Odisha and Andhra Pradesh as the eastern coast of India will most likely embrace Cyclone Gulab within the next 12 hours.
In a statement, IMD said, “The deep underlying cyclonic depression over the North-East and Central Bay of Bengal intensified and is shifting westwards with a speed of 12kmph in 6 hours. The cyclone is about 510kms East to South-East of Gopalpur, Odisha, and 590km East to North-East of Kalingapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, as of September 25.”
The cyclone is forecasted to move further westwards on the Indian mainland towards Northern Andhra Pradesh and South Odisha coasts between Vishakhapatnam and Gopalpur and completely over Kalingapatnam by the evening of September 26.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 15 teams for coastal districts of West Bengal and four teams in Kolkata for flood relief and rescue operations.
(Avya Mathur)