Politics · India Bureau
Odisha ramps up storm readiness as severe cyclone targets Andhra Pradesh
The Odisha government has mobilised personnel and emergency equipment across vulnerable coastal areas as a severe cyclonic storm approaches the region. The system is forecast to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28, though officials say the state will maintain full preparedness.
LSN India ·
State authorities in Odisha have intensified disaster preparedness measures following warnings from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) of an approaching severe cyclonic storm. The depression currently over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam on October 28.
The IMD has projected maximum sustained winds of 115-125 kilometres per hour, with gusts reaching 140 kmph during the system's crossing. The predicted landfall zone lies approximately 300 kilometres from Odisha's Gopalpur, positioning the state on the outer edge of the storm's impact zone.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed officials to treat public safety as the highest priority, emphasising that despite the storm's expected landfall in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, the state government will maintain full operational readiness. Officials have been instructed to prioritise evacuation protocols and emergency response procedures across coastal and vulnerable districts.
The mobilisation of personnel and equipment in Odisha reflects lessons learned from previous cyclonic events in the region. State disaster management authorities are working to ensure that response capabilities remain at maximum strength throughout the forecasted period of severe weather.