NPN

Bhubaneswar: The low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal has gradually intensified into a deep depression. It is moving towards the Odisha coast, causing heavy rains on Thursday. The state government has deployed personnel and machinery in identified vulnerable districts to deal with the situation. Heavy rains have been occurring in all parts of the state, especially in the coastal and southern regions, since Wednesday. The Meteorological Department issued a heavy rain warning for all 30 districts of Odisha on Thursday. Deep depression moving at a speed of 17 kmph The IMD said in a statement that a deep depression formed over the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday night and is moving towards the coast at a speed of 17 kmph. He said, "The system was centered at 5:30 am on Thursday, about 190 km south-southeast of Gopalpur, 190 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 230 km south of Puri (Odisha), 250 km east of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 310 km south-southwest of Paradip (Odisha)." Expected to cross Odisha by tonight The IMD said the storm is likely to cross Odisha by the night of October 2 and reach the Gopalpur and Paradip coasts adjoining Andhra Pradesh. According to weather experts, a deep depression is a condition that follows a well-marked low pressure and precedes a cyclonic storm, which is usually followed by heavy rainfall and strong winds. The national weather agency has issued a red alert for more than 20 cm of rain in Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts, an orange alert (7 to 20 cm of rain) for 14 districts, and a yellow alert (7 to 11 cm of rain) for the remaining 14 districts. Fishermen alerted Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea near the Odisha coast until October 3. The bulletin states, "Under the influence of a deep depression, gale-force winds with speeds of 40 to 50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph are likely to prevail over the central and adjoining north Bay of Bengal from October 1. This speed will gradually increase to 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal from the afternoon of October 2 to the morning of October 3." The IMD has also suggested raising "Local Warning Signal Number-3" (LC-3) at all ports in the state. (input language)