The deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours, the Indian Meteorological Department announced at 9am on Friday morning.
The storm system has been designated Cyclone Jawad. The cyclone is likely to cause heavy rainfall and high-speed winds in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal.
The IMD informed Jawad will reach the north Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast by Saturday morning. The governments of Odisha, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh have begun taking contingency measures.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting to review preparedness of Central and state agencies for Jawad.
Modi directed officials to take every possible measure to ensure that people are safely evacuated and the maintenance of all essential services such as power, telecommunications, health and drinking water and that they are restored immediately in the event of any disruption, the PMO said. Modi further asked them to ensure adequate storage of essential medicines and supplies and to plan for unhindered movement. He also directed for 24 x 7 functioning of control rooms.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has prepositioned 29 teams equipped with boats, tree-cutters, telecom equipment and other materials in the states and has kept 33 teams on standby. The Indian Coast Guard and the Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief, search and rescue operations. The Air Force and the engineer task force units of the Army, with boats and rescue equipment, are on standby for deployment, the PMO said.
The East Coast Railways has cancelled 95 trains operating in its jurisdiction for three days and has also geared up its disaster management tools for the impending cyclone.
Odisha
The Odisha government plans to deploy 266 teams, “including NDRF, State Fire Services and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) in coastal districts,” ANI reported. Under Jawad's influence, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at one or two places in Ganjam and Gajapati with heavy rainfall at one or two places in Koraput, Rayagada, Puri Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada on Friday.
West Bengal
In West Bengal, Jawad is expected to cause heavy rainfall until Sunday in districts such as North 24-Parganas, Bankura, Jhargram and Howrah as well as in parts of Purulia, Hooghly, Nadia, Birbhum, Murshidabad, East Burdwan, West Burdwan and Malda.
The Telegraph reported, “Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday reviewed the situation and held talks with several district magistrates, conveying her concern and asking authorities to prevent the loss of property and human life by ensuring best practices.”
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy met district collectors of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam to plan relief and rehabilitation measures. He directed them to open relief camps and focus efforts in low-lying areas.
