Cylcone Titli: Storm may hit Odisha, coastal Andhra Pradesh; heavy rains expected

NEW DELHI: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday said a depression over the Bay of Bengal is likely to concentrate into a cyclonic storm during the next 48 hours.
Under its impact, several parts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh will receive heavy rainfall starting from October 9. The cyclone has been named ‘Titli’ and is predicted to be of a strength that could be fatal to people and property.
CYCLONE TITLI MAY HIT COASTAL ANDHRA PRADESH
A cyclone is expected to hit the coastal parts of north-coastal Andhra Pradesh on Thursday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This will be the second cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal this year. The first cyclone, called the ‘Daye’, hit Odisha last month.
According to the present track of the weather system, it was identified as a ‘‘depression” , or a lower grade of the cyclone, on Monday over the Bay of Bengal. The depression could intensify into a cyclone on Wednesday, and hit the coast on Thursday, the IMD said.
ODISHA BRACES FOR STORM
A depression over the Bay of Bengal, which is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm on Wednesday and bring heavy rain to many parts of Odisha, especially along the coast, has prompted the state government to cancel the holidays of emergency personnel.
The National Emergency Response Centre (NERC), which functions under the Union ministry of home affairs, on Monday sent an advisory to the chief secretary in which it asked the state government to monitor the depression over the Bay, which is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm. "It is very likely to move north-westwards towards Odisha and the adjoining north Andhra Pradesh coast in 72 hours," the advisory added.
State relief commissioner Bishnupada Sethi said the government was ready for any emergency. "Where the storm will make its landfall will be known on Tuesday. We are in touch with the Indian meteorological department (IMD). The government will issue an alert to all the districts as soon as it gets a signal from the IMD," Sethi said.
"The depression is likely to intensify into a deep depression and trigger heavy rainfall across Odisha on October 10 and 11," said director of IMD's Bhubaneswar centre, HR Biswas. "The wind speeds are likely to increase gradually to 70-80 kmph, before peaking to 90 kmph from Wednesday evening, along and off south Odisha and coastal north Andhra Pradesh," he added.
The IMD's Bhubaneswar centre has issued a 'red warning' for heavy to very heavy rain at a few places in the state and extremely heavy rain over the districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada on Wednesday and Thursday.
The sea condition is likely to be very rough between Tuesday and Thursday. Those out in the deep seas have been advised to return by Monday night. Distance cautionary signal no. 1 has been sounded in all ports of the state.