Cyclonic storm Jawad is likely to convert into a deep depression as it reaches the Puri coast, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said December 4, 2021 in a morning bulletin.
“It (Jawad) is likely to weaken gradually and move nearly northwards during the next 12 hours and then north-northeast wards along Odisha coast reaching Puri around December 5 noon as a deep depression. Subsequently, it is likely to weaken further and continue to move further north-northwards along the Odisha coast towards the West Bengal coast,” the IMD bulletin said.
However, due to the impact of Jawad, there would be “heavy to very heavy and extremely” rainfall at isolated places over north coastal Andhra Pradesh, interior Odisha and coastal districts of Gangetic West Bengal, it said.
High sea conditions are likely to prevail over west central and adjoining north Bay of Bengal during the next 12 hours.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into west central and northwest Bay of Bengal and along and off the north Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal coast.
Before fizzling out, Jawad was supposed to be the first cyclone hitting Odisha in the month of December in the last 130 years. The state has been hit by at least 100 since 1891, according to a compilation by IMD.
The Odisha government on December 3 had ordered closure of schools in 19 districts on December 4 as a precaution to the supposed cyclonic storm and subsequent heavy rainfall.
The National Disaster Response Force has mobilised 34 teams, State Disaster Rapid Action Force has mobilised 60 teams and state fire service 172 teams in the coastal districts of Puri, Khordha, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Ganjam, and also in Gajapati.
Andhra Pradesh had evacuated over 54,000 people from low-lying areas while the Railways had cancelled around 170 trains running through Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal.