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In the last phase of monsoon, the weather pattern over the Bay of Bengal has suddenly become very aggressive. According to the latest bulletin of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the depression over East-Central and adjoining West-Central Bay of Bengal is going to strengthen rapidly and turn into a ‘Deep Depression’ (deep pressure area) within the next 12 hours. This weather system is moving towards west-northwest direction at a speed of about 17 kilometers per hour. According to meteorologists, this cyclonic pressure will hit the coastal areas of Northern Andhra Pradesh and Southern Odisha from late night of 23rd September to early morning of 24th September. Its main area of landfall will be between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur, due to which a serious warning has been given of high waves in the sea and storm gusts up to 75 kilometers per hour.
According to the update issued by the Office of the Director General of Meteorological Department, high sea surface temperature and abundant moisture present in the Gulf are continuously fueling this system. Although the Meteorological Department has clarified that while crossing the coast, it will remain in the form of a deep depression and the possibility of becoming a full-fledged cyclonic storm is limited, but its impact will be no less devastating than a cyclone.
From the morning of September 23, strong storm winds will blow at a speed of 55 to 65 km/hr in the coastal areas, whose speed can reach 75 km/hr during landfall at night. When the cyclonic system hits the coast, there is a possibility of destructive storm waves 2 to 3 meters high in the sea, due to which there is a danger of salt water entering the coastal villages. The administration has given strict instructions to all fishermen not to go into the sea till September 25 and return to the coast.
The impact of this deep depression arising from the Bay of Bengal will not be limited only to the coastal states, but 8 states of Central and Eastern India will see havoc due to torrential rains and storms for the next 4 days:
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Odisha (Red Alert): The most severe impact will be seen in the southern districts of Odisha. The weather department has issued a ‘red alert’ for extremely heavy rainfall of more than 200 mm in Gajapati, Ganjam, Koraput, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Puri and Rayagada on September 23 and 24.
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Andhra Pradesh (Coastal region): Flood like situation is expected in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and Kakinada. Life in coastal districts may be disrupted due to strong winds.
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West Bengal (Orange Alert): South Bengal districts including Kolkata – South 24 Parganas, East Medinipur, Howrah and Hooghly are on alert for continuous heavy rain and thunderstorm with gust to 50 km/hr from September 23 to 26.
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Telangana: As the cyclonic system enters landfall, there is a possibility of severe waterlogging and heavy rain in Hyderabad including Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem and Warangal in Telangana on September 24 and 25.
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Chhattisgarh: A warning has been issued regarding extremely heavy rainfall during September 23 to 25 in southern districts like Bastar, Sukma, Dantewada and Bijapur.
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Jharkhand: Due to the impact of the system, there is a yellow and orange alert of heavy rain with severe thunder and lightning strikes in Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Bokaro and Dumka between September 23 and 26.
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Bihar: Many places in Bhagalpur, Banka, Gaya and Nawada in South and East Bihar will see torrential rains between September 24 and 27.
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East Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha (Maharashtra): Heavy rain has been warned in Jabalpur, Balaghat and Nagpur divisions on 24 and 25 September due to the influence of western residual depression.
In view of this major weather crisis, the respective state governments have fully activated their disaster management system:
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Schools and colleges closed: Odisha government has issued orders to close all government and private schools and Anganwadi centers in Ganjam, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Khordha and Jagatsinghpur districts till September 24 as a precautionary measure.
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Leave of officers cancelled: Leave of all employees of Revenue, Health, Police and Disaster Management Department in all sensitive districts of Southern Odisha and Northern Andhra Pradesh has been canceled and they have been instructed not to leave the headquarters.
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NDRF and ODRAF: Dozens of NDRF and State Disaster Response Force contingents have been deployed with boats and rescue equipment to evacuate people from low-lying areas and villages situated on the banks of rivers to safe shelter homes.
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Ferry services suspended in Chilika Lake: Due to poor visibility and rising water, ferry services between Satpara and Janhikuda in Chilika Lake have been completely suspended till September 25.
Citizens have been advised to avoid non-essential travel during September 23 and 24, stay away from weak roofs and dilapidated houses, not take shelter under electric poles and trees during thunderstorms and rely only on official weather bulletins.