Disaster response teams on standby as Odisha braces for heavy rains

TIL Desk/National/Odisha/ Disaster response and fire services teams were kept on standby in Odisha on Friday as the low-pressure area over the South Andaman Sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal could intensify into a depression in the next 48 hours, officials said.

 Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena said 17 teams of NDRF, 20 teams of ODRAF and 175 fire services teams have been put on high alert. Director-General of Fire Services SK Upadhaya said all leaves of fire services personnel have been cancelled.

 Under the influence of a cyclonic circulation over the South Andaman Sea and its neighbourhood, a low-pressure area has been formed.  It is very likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a depression in the next 48 hours, the weather office said.   Favourable conditions exist in the sea for the creation of a cyclonic storm, it said.

 “The low-pressure area will move northwest and intensify into a depression in the next 48 hours. However, some time is required for analysing the data before providing details on the possible path of the system,” it added.   India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director-General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said no forecast has yet been issued for a possible cyclone.