Amaravati/Bhubaneswar, Sept 23: A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is expected to cross the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coast near Kalingapatnam on Wednesday night or early Thursday, bringing heavy to extremely heavy rainfall and gusty winds to several areas, officials said.
The system has not intensified into a cyclone and is likely to cross the coast at its present strength, according to officials at the Cyclone Warning Centre in Visakhapatnam.
Gusty winds of 55-75 kmph are likely along the coast on Wednesday and Thursday, while fishermen have been advised to stay away from the sea until September 25.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Srikakulam, Parvathipuram Manyam, Vizianagaram, Alluri Sitharama Raju and Anakapalli districts of Andhra Pradesh. Visakhapatnam is under an orange alert.
Heavy rainfall has already affected several areas. Palasa in Srikakulam recorded 141 mm, while Similiguda in Odisha’s Koraput district received 230 mm of rain in the 24 hours ending Wednesday morning.
Heavy rains triggered waterlogging, overflowing tanks and streams and uprooted trees in parts of north Andhra. A boundary wall at the site of a Google data centre in Mudasarlova also collapsed. No casualties were reported.
In Odisha, heavy to very heavy rainfall has been reported in several southern and coastal districts, including Koraput, Ganjam, Gajapati, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri.
Authorities have stepped up preparedness, with 33 ODRAF teams deployed or kept on standby. Schools and Anganwadi centres have been closed in several vulnerable districts, while government employees’ leave has been cancelled in affected areas.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the situation and directed the administration to “maintain the highest level of preparedness.”
In Andhra Pradesh, Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan directed officials to remain vigilant and prepare for possible damage to roads and culverts, fallen trees and flooding.
Officials were asked to repair damaged roads “on a war footing” and assist in running relief camps where necessary, with adequate food, drinking water and medicines.
The weather system is expected to weaken into a depression by Thursday evening after moving inland and further weaken into a low-pressure area by Saturday morning.
