Cyclone Jawad is likely to reach north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha this morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said. Puri in Odisha witnessed rainfall and high-speed winds early morning ahead of the cyclone's warning.
The Andhra Pradesh government has evacuated over 54,008 people from three districts till now and set up 197 relief camps in schools and community halls, while the Odisha government has ordered to keep the schools closed in 19 districts of the state.
According to the Met department, Cyclone Jawad lay centred at 5:30 pm of Friday over the west-central Bay of Bengal, about 300 km south-SE of Vishakhapatnam, 420 km nearly south of Gopalpur, 480 km south-SW of Puri and 560 km south-southwest of Paradip
"It is likely to move north-northwestwards, intensify further and reach the west-central Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh - south Odisha coasts by tomorrow, December 4 morning," said the IMD.
"Thereafter it is likely to recurve north-northeastwards and move along the Odisha coast reaching near Puri around December 5 noon. Subsequently, it is likely to continue to move north-northeastwards along coastal Odisha towards the West Bengal coast," said the IMD.
Here are the Highlights on Cyclone Jawad:
The Cyclonic Storm ''Jawad'' is likely to move nearly northwards and weaken into a Deep Depression during the next six hours and then move north-northeastwards along Odisha coast and reach near Puri around December 5 noon, said the India Meteorological Department on Saturday, reported ANI.
It lay centered at 1430 hrs Indian Standard Time (IST) on Saturday, over the west-central Bay of Bengal near 16.5 degrees North latitude and 84.7 degrees East latitude, about 200 km east-southeast of Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh), 310 km south-southwest of Gopalpur in Odisha, 380 km south-southwest of Puri in Odisha) and 470 km south-southwest of Paradip in Odisha.
In a relief for Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, cyclonic storm ''Jawad'' weakened into a deep depression on Saturday and is likely weaken further into a depression by the time it reaches Puri on Sunday, the India Meteorological Department said.
The cyclonic storm weakened into a deep depression and lay centered over west-central Bay of Bengal, about 180 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, and 330 km south-southwest of Puri, Odisha at 5:30 pm, the Met office said in a statement.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director General Atul Karwal on Saturday said the impact of Cyclonic storm ''Jawad'' is not as strong as it was expected, and it is weakening.
The NDRF Director-General told ANI that "the impact would be less than we had earlier expected and the fact that the Cyclone seems to be weakening and not as strong as it was thought it might be."
The DG said there is rainfall in Coastal areas and light rainfall in other places, but electricity is not disrupted, mobile connectivity is still continued and there are no road blockages as of now.
Mr Karwal was explaining the present situation as the Cyclone has hit coastal areas of north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha since this morning.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) Bhubaneshwar director HR Biswas on Friday informed that Cyclone Jawad is expected to hit the coastal region of Puri on Sunday, reported ANI.
While speaking to the media, Mr Biswas said, "The Cyclone Jawad was observed moving northwards in the past 1 hour and will continue the same for the next 12 hours. Weakening trend in the intensity of the cyclone and expected to hit the coastal regions of Puri tomorrow and will weaken gradually."
Mr Biswas further informed that the maximum wind speed is expected to be 75 Km/hr. "Only heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected and no storm warnings in any region. Traffic may be affected due to waterlogging. Evacuations have been done only in the low-lying and vulnerable areas along the coast," he added.
Union minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday reviewed the arrangements and preparations made by state governments of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal to deal with cyclone Jawad, reported PTI.
Industry associations like CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM and PHD Chambers were also represented at the conference.
The minister underscored the need for drawing of a comprehensive action plan towards managing this natural disaster in the most effective way by incorporating the inputs and suggestions of all stakeholders.
Mr Goyal said public private partnership is necessary for disaster management and mitigation and for protecting the lives and livelihoods of those affected.
In view of the impending cyclonic storm 'Jawad', the Odisha government has ordered to keep the schools closed in 19 districts of the state.
As Cyclone Jawad is likely hit to north Andhra Pradesh on Saturday, the state government has evacuated over 54,008 people from three districts.
