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Cyclone warning leads to panic in Orissa

A cyclone warning led to panic in coastal Orissa, with memories of last October's Super Cyclone still fresh in everybody's minds.

The cyclone had devastated villages and towns and claimed over 10,000 lives.

"We are preparing to face any situation arising out of the cyclone and afterwards," said Arabind Mohanty, a government employee who is yet to forget the Super Cyclone.

"What can we do, except pray to god," said Aruna Patnaik, a housewife.

People in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack have started buying essential goods in panic and have advised others to collect food and kerosene. Bhajman Sahoo, a shopkeeper in Bhubaneswar, admitted that many people were purchasing large amounts of essential commodities.

The Meteorological Department and state government appealed to people not to panic because it is just a depression over the Bay of Bengal.

Meteorological Department director I P Patel told rediff.com on Monday that there was no need for panic in Orissa. "If there is any real threat of a cyclone, we would have informed the people at least 48 hours before."

Patel said that there was no indication of a cyclone over the coast. "Sunday's well-marked low pressure area over east central and adjoining parts of south-east Bay of Bengal intensified into a deep depression," Patel stated.

On Monday morning, the deep depression was centred about 420 km south east of Visakhapatnam.It is likely to intensify and move in a north-westerly direction, towards Andhra Pradesh or the Orissa coast.

"It is not a cyclonic storm," Patel said. It will take a day or two to intensify into a cyclonic storm if does not weaken in between. "We are keeping a close watch on the situation," he said.

Sources in the Met office told rediff.com that under the effect of a deep depression, coastal Orissa will experience rain and wind speeds of up to 50 to 60 km per hour.

The state government has alerted collectors of all coastal districts and the revenue divisional commissioners.

Revenue Minister Biswabhusan Harichandan said that the government was watching the situation and all measures were being taken to meet any eventuality.

Special Relief Commissioner A Tripathy said that there was nothing to panic now as the Met office has promised to alert the administration at least 72 hours before a cyclonic storm.

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