Cyclone alert issued in coastal Odisha

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar: It has already started raining in coastal Odisha as the deep depression over west-central Bay of Bengal has intensified into cyclonic storm Roanu forcing the Odisha Government issue a cyclone alert on Thursday.After Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the cyclone preparedness, Chief Secretary Aditya Padhi told journalists at the State Secretariat reporters that alert has been issued in 12 districts in coastal, southern and northern regions of the State.Along with rains, the wind speed is likely to remain within 100 km per hour along and off Odisha coast under the influence of the storm which would hit the State’s coast by Friday.Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.The State government has asked 10 teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and fire service personnel to stay prepared to meet any eventuality.The government has cancelled leave of all government employees on May 20 and May 21 in view of the impending storm.Meanwhile, heat wave continues to prevail over interior Odisha with Sonepur experiencing maximum day temperature of 40.8 degrees Celsius.At all other places across the maximum day temperature remained below 40 degrees Celsius on Thursday.