Odisha Fully Prepared for Possible Cyclone or Heavy Rainfall: Minister Pujari

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is fully prepared to tackle any potential cyclone or heavy rainfall situation arising from the developing weather system over the Bay of Bengal, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Monday.

Addressing reporters, Pujari stated that all district administrations have been alerted, and the government is closely monitoring weather updates from both foreign agencies and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

“There are indications of two low-pressure systems forming in the Bay of Bengal. While an American agency has assessed a possible cyclone formation, the IMD has so far predicted only rainfall. Based on current forecasts, southern Odisha has been placed under red alert and coastal districts under orange alert,” the Minister informed.

He assured that the state administration has made all necessary precautionary arrangements and is ready to respond promptly if the situation escalates. “Even if the disaster intensifies beyond expectations, the administration is prepared to manage it effectively,” Pujari added.

Meanwhile, Manorama Mohanty, Director of the IMD’s Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre, said the low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a well-marked low-pressure system and may develop into a depression within 24 hours.

“The system is likely to move west-northwestwards towards north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and south Andhra coasts, with a chance of further intensification. However, there will be no direct impact on Odisha,” Mohanty clarified.

The Regional Meteorological Centre has forecast light to moderate rainfall with lightning, thunder, and gusty winds across several parts of the state over the next five days, particularly affecting southern, coastal, and northern districts.

A yellow warning has been issued for Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Boudh, Nayagarh, Khordha, Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, and Kendrapara districts for the next 24 hours. Similar alerts are in place for Jajpur, Bhadrak, and Balasore districts for tomorrow, the IMD said.