Lessons from Phailin come in handy for Odisha for tackling Hudhud

The deep depression in the North Andaman sea and its neighbourhood intensified into a cyclonic storm on Wednesday and is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts on October 12.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the situation with concerned departments and said all preparation have been made on par with those made to deal with cyclone Phailin last year.

"The cyclonic storm 'Hudhud' lay centred at 0830 hours over North Andaman sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal near latitude 12.30 N and longitude 92.90 E, about 1,150 km southeast of Gopalpur," the latest bulletin issued by the Indian Meteorological Department in Bhubaneswar said.

It is now crossing Andaman & Nicobar Islands close to Long Island, the IMD said, adding that the system would thereafter continue to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours and subsequently into a very severe cyclonic storm.

"The system would cross north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining Odisha coast between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur by noon on October 12," the IMD said, adding the region is likely to experience rain or thundershower at one or two places over Odisha during the next 24 hours

The met office advised hoisting of storm warning of distant cautionary signal number two (DC-II) by replacing the earlier distant warning signal number one (DW-I) at Paradip and Gopalpur ports in Odisha.

It also advised fishermen in deep sea to return to the coast immediately.

Patnaik told reporters, "I reviewed the situation with concerned departments. All preparation have been made on par with the one made to tackle cyclone Phailin last year ... Go for evacuation of people if required."

Departments have been asked to implement the contingency plan, he said.

A press release issued by the CMO said as per its information the system remains 1,170 km from Gopalpur and will cross Visakhapatnam and Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh on October 12.

Though cyclone Hudhud is most likely to make landfall in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, the southern parts of Odisha could experience heavy rainfall along with wind at the speed of 100 kmph to 140 kmph, the release said, adding the state government was ready to face the situation.

The IMD model, which is based on latest analysis, suggested that the gusting speed would be 85 kmph as soon as the deep depression takes the shape of cyclonic storm. The wind speed would remain at about 90 kmph all along the day and it would continue till Thursday.

The cyclonic storm would, however, further intensify and take the form of severe cyclonic storm on Thursday with gusting speed of 110 kmph, the IMD bulletin said. The severe cyclonic storm will take the form of very severe cyclonic storm with gusting up to 125 kmph on October 10.

According to the bulletin, the very severe cyclonic storm condition would continue till October 12 when the maximum speed could reach 145 kmph.

However, the wind speed would come down to 100 kmph and the system would take the form of a cyclonic storm on October 13, it added.

The Odisha government has already taken steps to deploy personnel of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force in vulnerable places and National Disaster Response Force and fire service personnel have been alerted to face the situation as and when required.

"Our men are already in Puri and Balasore. If required we will seek more personnel from Delhi," NDRF commandant M K Yadav, who attended the review meeting with Patnaik, said.

Official sources said people have been asked not to panic as the administration was well prepared to face the situation and the state government has cancelled the leaves of its employees.

"Ganjam is likely to be worst hit in the cyclone as the system will make landfall close to the district. The government has already sent a group of skilled workers to Ganjam district to immediately restore power if the supply is damaged due to high speed wind of about 140 kmph," said a senior official of the energy department.

Patnaik has asked the chief secretary to see that BSNL authorities restore communication systems immediately, in the event they are hit by the cyclone.

The chief minister also said that the Election Commission should be approached to ensure return of officials engaged in elections outside the state.

Drawing from last year's cyclone Phailin experience, the Odisha government has also made preparations for tackling possible floods in Bansadhara, Nagabali and Rusikulya rivers.

"We have 340 cyclone shelters ready to house the people if they are evacuated ahead of the cyclone," Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Bijayshree Routray said.

Patnaik, he said, has directed the supply department to ensure checking of hoarding and black marketing of essential items in the market.

Image: The cyclone Hudhud as seen via satellite looming close to the Odisha coast. Photograph: IMD