Cyclone Gulab has crossed the north Andhra Pradesh–South Odisha coasts, about 20 km north of Kalingapatnam in A.P.
Two fishermen from Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh lost their lives in the cyclonic storm Gulab in Bay of Bengal on Sunday evening while another still remained missing. Three more fishermen reached the shore safely and called state Fisheries Minister S. Appala Raju over phone from Akkupalli village and told him they were safe.
Here are the latest updates:
Cyclone Gulab to weaken into Deep Depression
Cyclonic Storm Gulab is likely to move west-northwestwards and weaken into a Deep Depression during next 12 hours, says an IMD update at 10.30 p.m.
Cyclone Gulab crosses coast about 20 km north of Kalingapatnam in A.P.
Cyclonic storm Gulab crossed the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coast about 20 km north of Kalingapatnam, triggering widespread rain in the region on Sunday evening.
A youth was reportedly swept away in the Mahendra Tanaya river while he was trying to cross the river. The missing youth was identified as G. Ramu, who hailed from Sailada village.
Three members of a family escaped narrowly when a big tree fell on their house under the Khairput block of Malkangiri district.
Odisha evacuated around 40,000 people in six southern districts in view of the cyclonic storm.
Landfall process continues
“The cyclonic storm ‘Gulab’ (pronounced as ‘gul-aab’) lay centred at 1930 hrs IST of the 26th Sep, 2021 over northwest and adjoining West-Central Bay of Bengal near latitude 18.4°n and longitude 84.3°e, about 25 km East-Northeast of Kalingapattnum, 120 km South-Southwest of Goplapur. The system is lying close to coast and crossing the north Andhra Pradesh coast. The landfall process, will continue for next 2 hours,”says the latest bulletin issued by India Meteorological Department at 8.20 p.m. on September 26.
PM speaks with Odisha, Andhra CMs
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and assured them of the Centre's support in facing the situation arising in the wake of cyclone Gulab.
"Discussed the cyclone situation in parts of Odisha with CM @Naveen_Odisha Ji. The Centre assures all possible support in overcoming this adversity," Mr. Modi said in a tweet. Praying for the safety and well-being of everybody, he said.
In another tweet, Mr. Modi said, "Spoke to Andhra Pradesh CM Shri @ysjagan and took stock of the situation arising in the wake of Cyclone Gulab. Assured all possible support from the Centre. I pray for everyone's safety and well-being."
2 A.P. fishermen killed, one missing
Two fishermen from Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh lost their lives in the cyclonic storm Gulab in Bay of Bengal on Sunday evening while another still remained missing.
Three more fishermen reached the shore safely and called state Fisheries Minister S. Appala Raju over phone from Akkupalli village and told him they were safe.
Six fishermen from Palasa, who were returning to their native village by sea in a new boat they purchased in Odisha two days ago, were caught in the storm.
One of the six called his village over phone and informed that their boat lost balance and five of his fellow fishermen were lost in the sea. Subsequently, his mobile phone too went silent, indicating that he too might have gone missing.
However, three of them swam to safety while two others perished.
The one who made the first phone call still remained untraced and his fellow fishermen fear he made still have been trapped in the ill-fated boat.
The Fisheries Minister contacted the Navy authorities to carry out a rescue operation.
Landfall process of Cyclone Gulab starts
Landfall process of Cyclone Gulab has started at about 6.30 p.m. Cloud band has entered north Andhra Pradesh and South Odisha. The cyclone will cross the coast 25 km north of Kalingapatnam and the landfall process will take next three hours to complete, says Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, IMD DG
Cyclone Gulab to make landfall around 6 p.m.
Landfall of cyclonic storm 'Gulab' is likely to start between south Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh around 6 p.m. It will gradually weaken into deep depression and move towards Chhattisgarh, says Odisha Special Relief Commissioner. — Satyasundar Barik
Cyclone Gulab: ENC ready for relief and rescue operations
As the Cyclone Gulab formed in the Bay of Bengal is expected to make landfall between north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coast around midnight, the Indian Navy is closely monitoring the movement of the cyclonic storm. Headquarters, Eastern Naval Command, and Naval Officers-in-Charge, Odisha Area, have carried out preparatory activities to combat the effects of the cyclone and are in constant liaison with the State administrations for rendering assistance as required.
As part of the preparedness, flood relief teams and diving teams are positioned in Odisha and are ready at Visakhapatnam to render immediate assistance. Two naval ships are at sea with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) material and medical teams to render assistance in the most affected areas. Naval aircraft are kept ready at Naval Air Stations, INS Dega, in Visakhapatnam and INS Rajali, near Chennai, to undertake an aerial survey of the most affected areas, casualty evacuation, and airdrop of relief material, as required. — Special Correspondent
Odisha sets ‘zero casualty’ target as cyclone ‘Gulab’ approaches, evacuation drive underway
Hours before cyclone ‘Gulab’ makes landfall in Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday set a “zero casualty” target in the vulnerable districts of the state, where rainfall activity started in the southern and coastal regions under the influence of the weather system.
The cyclone, the second to hit the state in four months after ‘Yaas’ wreaked havoc in May, is likely to make landfall between Gopalpur and Kalingapatanam in Andhra Pradesh around midnight, the India Meteorological Department said.
Vizag officials told to be alert
Disaster Management Commissioner K. Kanna Babu has directed the officials of various departments to be prepared for any emergency in view of cyclone, likely to make a landfall between Kalingapatnam and Gopalpur, around midnight.
In a review meeting with the District Collector, Joint Collector, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Commissioner and district-level officials, he directed the officials and employees of A.P. EPDCL, GVMC, Fisheries, Revenue, Fire Services, Police and R & B Departments to be ready with the equipment to undertake emergency relief operations, based on the need.
Fishermen should be prevented from going out to sea and those already at sea should be asked to return to the shore immediately.
An NDRF team with 22 members was ready with the required equipment at Gajuwaka and one SDRF team with 25 members and the necessary equipment is ready at the RDOs Office in Visakhapatnam. — B. Madhu Gopal/
Cyclone Gulab: some trains cancelled, others to run on diverted routes
Some trains were cancelled and some others are diverted or rescheduled for the safety of passengers and train operations in view of Cyclone Gulab.
The trains, which were cancelled at the origination station, on September 26 are 08445 Bhubaneswar – Jagdalpur special, 02097 Bhubaneswar – Junagadh Road special, 08217 Rourkela – Gunupur special.
RO tells Pipili bypoll candidates to take safety measures during campaigning
The Returning Officer (RO) of the Pipili Assembly seat in Puri district has suggested to all the candidates in the fray for the September 30 bypoll to take appropriate precautionary measures during their campaigning in view of cyclone Gulab which will make landfall on Sunday night.
In a letter to all the 10 candidates, Puri Additional District Magistrate-cum RO said: "You are, therefore, requested to take appropriate measures during campaign and conduct meeting in pucca buildings and if at all necessary, the tent house should be made to resist the wind speed." -PTI
Rain lashes parts of Odisha ahead of cyclone Gulab’s landfall
Rainfall activity started in Odisha’s southern and coastal regions on September 26 morning in the wake of cyclone ‘Gulab’, which is likely to make landfall between Gopalpur and Kalingapatanam in Andhra Pradesh around midnight, the India Meteorological Department said. The cyclone, the second to hit the state in four months, lay centered about 140 km east-southeast of Gopalpur and 190 km east-northeast of Kalingapatnam, it said. -PTI
Navy monitoring cyclone Gulab
As the cyclonic storm ‘Gulab’ formed in the Bay of Bengal is expected to make landfall between north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coast around midnight , the Indian Navy is closely monitoring the movement of the cyclonic storm. Headquarters, Eastern Naval Command, and Naval Officers-in-Charge, Odisha Area have carried out preparatory activities to combat the effects of the cyclone and are in constant liaison with State administrations for rendering assistance as required.
Extremely heavy rain forecast at few places in north Andhra Pradesh
Under the influence of the system, extremely heavy rainfall at one or two places is very likely over Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts till Monday morning. Heavy to very heavy rainfall at one or two places is very likely over East Godavari and West Godavari district and Yanam and heavy rainfall is very likely at one or two places over south coastal Andhra Pradesh till Monday morning.
Light to moderate rain or thundershowers is likely at most places over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam during the same period.
Srikakulam district administration geared up for relief operations: Collector
As many as two National Disaster Response Teams (NDRF) and four State Disaster Response Teams (SDRF) teams reached Srikakulam district which is expected be hit very badly with the impact of Gulab cyclone which is currently located between Gopalpur of Odisha and Kalingapatnam of Srikakulam district .
As per the latest information from Srikakulam district administration and Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the storm lay cantered about 310 km east-southeast of Gopalpur and 380 km east of Kalingapatnam. With the indication of heavy to very heavy rainfall from IMD, Srikakulam district administration evacuated nearly 26,000 people to safe places including cyclone shelters located at different places all along 110 km.
Cyclonic storm Gulab to cross A.P.-Odisha coasts around September 26 midnight
The cyclonic storm Gulab over north-west and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal is likely to cross north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts around midnight of September 26 instead of evening as predicted earlier .
“The cyclonic storm Gulab over north-west and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal moved nearly westwards with a speed of 10 kmph during the past six hours and lay centered over north-west and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal about 270 km east-southeast of Gopalpur [Odisha] and 330 km east of Kalingapatnam [Andhra Pradesh],” says the latest bulletin issued by India Meteorological Department on September 26.
Vizag district officials gear up to face Cyclone Gulab
District Collector A. Mallikarjuna has cancelled leaves of all the government employees and asked them to report to duty immediately in the wake of Cyclone Gulab. He has appointed constituency and mandal level Special Officers for monitoring and taking precautionary measures. He has asked the officers to visit their mandals allocated to them and prepare an action plan as precautionary measure.
The administration has also readied NDRF teams available at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, rescue teams of Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and SDRF team of the Police Department, he said.
No Sunday carnival in Hyderabad if cyclone plays spoilsport
The Sunday carnival by Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) this time will be heavily predicated on the impact of Cyclone Gulab in the city.
In case the cyclone, which is expected to make landfall on the Southern coastal regions of Odisha, makes an impact on the city, the urban body will not be able to keep its promise of ‘Sunday-Funday’.
A statement from HMDA on Saturday urged visitors not to come out if heavy rains occur due to the cyclone’s impact in which event the carnival might have to be rescheduled to next Sunday.
