Cyclone Roanu Will Get Severe Today, Alert Issued For Heavy Downpour and Cyclonic Storms

Kolkata:  Newly formed Cyclone Roanu is increasing its strength and is set to intensify and bring heavy to very heavy rainfall in northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal coastline from Friday night, according to the Regional Metrological Centre (RMC).   

Meanwhile, Cyclone Roanu has intensified its strength and started moving northeastwards, to Odisha, at a speed of 20 Km per hour and is now dwelling in areas associated to the Gopalpur coast. “The system is likely to move northeastwards along and off north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours. Thereafter the system is likely to move east-northeastwards and cross south Bangladesh coast between Khepupara and Cox Bazar, close to Chittagong in the evening of Saturday as a cyclonic storm,” said S.C. Sahu, Director of Indian Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Bhubaneswar branch.

However, with alerts of very heavy rainfall for the coastal Odisha for the next 36 hours, reports are that West Bengal is also under the same threat. Reports are that Kolkata and adjoining districts will receive a cyclonic storm and heavy to very heavy rainfall on Saturday afternoon.  IMD has issued a warning for cyclone while the fishermen were said not to venture to sea in the next 48-hours. The Met Department also said that it is very likely that the coastline of Bay of Bengal will receive very high waves.

According to IMD, they have warned the coastal states to keep force ready for any untimely situation due to heavy rainfall and cyclonic storms.  They also have notified Odisha and West Bengal that the storm is likely to damage mud huts, power and communication lines. Following the alerts from IMD, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had held an emergency meeting and said his office to prepare all the 12 coastal districts to prepare for emergencies. The state administration also has prepared teams from fire brigade teams and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and directed them to be on standby for rescue and relief operations.