Cyclone Aila Reaches WB, Alert Sounded in 2 Districts
Following unremitting rains triggered by a depression over Bay of Bengal off Paradip coast, high alert has been declared in Balasore and Bhadrak districts of West Bengal.
According to official sources, most places in both the districts received heavy rainfall on Monday with Balasora town alone recording 11.8 mm rain. Reports about the volume of rainfall from other areas are yet to come.
“Heavy rain has been forecast in the next 48 hours. Besides, we have been alerted for a possible storm and thunder squall. In an emergency meeting we have alerted our BDO and tehsildars to stay put in headquarters and be ready for any eventuality,” said ADM Sribatsa Jena.
“The low pressure area over east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal has concentrated into a depression and lay centered at about 470 km south-south-east of Paradip. It will cross Orissa coast by tomorrow,” he added.
The meteorological department has forecast wind, having a velocity of nearly 65 kmph, will blow along and off the north Orissa coast and the sea will be rough.
Keeping with the forecast, fishermen have been asked not to venture into the sea. People in seaside villages are a panicked lot because of the high wind speed.
