Odisha Channel Bureau
BHUBANESWAR: Titli, the very severe cyclonic storm over westcentral Bay of Bengal which was being monitored by the coastal doppler weather radars at Visakhapatnam, Gopalpur and Paradip, crossed north Andhra Pradesh- south Odisha coasts, near Palasa in Srikakulam district with estimated maximum sustained surface wind speed of 140-150 kmph gusting to 165 kmph between 4.30 and 5.30 am on Thursday.
While no casualty was reported from both the States, Titli caused heavy rainfall in Ganjam, Gajapati and Puri districts of Odisha. Damage to thatched and asbestos house, street lights, minor damage to power and communication, and road blockage due to falling of trees was reported from Ganjam.
The Capital city of Bhubaneswar also continued to experience intermittent rainfall under the impact of Titli as also schools and colleges remained closed. The educational institutions will also remain closed on Friday.
The latest observations indicate that Titli lay centred at 5.30 am over north Coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha about 70 km southwest of Gopalpur and 60 km north-northeast of Kalingapatnam.
According to hourly coastal observations of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Gopalpur reported surface wind speed of 126 kmph at 4.30 am and Kalingapatnam reported 59 kmph at 3.30 am.
“It is very likely to move northwestwards for next 12 hours and then re-curve northeastwards towards Gangetic West Bengal across Odisha. It is very likely to weaken gradually becoming severe cyclonic storm around noon, cyclonic storm around evening of today and a deep depression by Friday morning,” according to IMD.
The sea condition will be phenomenal over westcentral and north Bay of Bengal and along and off south Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh coasts during the day. It will become very high to high along and off these coasts for subsequent 12 hours and gradually improve thereafter.
Odisha government had shifted around three lakh people from vulnerable coastal villages in Ganjam and other coastal districts of the State. The evacuees were provided relief in the 1100-odd shelters.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had reviewed the situation at a high level meeting in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday evening.
