Bhubaneshwar sources stated that with the weather office making a forecast of cyclone and likely floods in Odisha, the state government asked all the district collectors to remain alert till the situation is clearly understood and handled. Sources said “Based on the India Meteorological Department or IMD forecast, Special Relief Commissioner BP Sethi has asked the districts administration to remain alert and keep the administrative machinery in full preparedness to meet the eventuality”.
Mr. Sethi said in a letter "All officers to remain in headquarters and not to avail leave till the cyclone situation is over. District Emergency Operation Centres to function round the clock and the situation be closely monitored”. Previously the National Emergency Response Centre or NERC, under the Home Ministry, had also cautioned the Odisha government against a looming cyclonic storm in the next two to three days.
Furthermore Mr. Mohapatra said additional Director
General of the IMD, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, told some Odia television channels
said that the pressure depression is now moving towards Odisha and Andhra
Pradesh coast. The system is likely to intensify into a deep depression on
Tuesday. Moreover HR Biswas, the director of meteorological centre in
Bhubaneswar, also confirmed that a "depression has been recorded at a
distance of around 720 km from Gopalpur coast in Odisha" and also said the
state is likely to experience wind speed up to 90 kmph due to possible cyclone.
