Cyclone Jawad: most schools shut in Odisha, over 50000 evacuated in Andhra

Heavy showers and high-speed winds lashed vast swathes of coastal Odisha on Saturday as Cyclone Jawad moved along the coast.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heavy rain is also predicted in parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

The cyclone, which is expected to make landfall near Puri on Sunday noon, is likely to weaken gradually and move nearly northwards during the next 12 hours and then north-northeastwards along Odisha coast reaching near Puri around 5th December noon as a Deep Depression.

Schools across 19 districts in Odisha will remain closed due to heavy rainfall, ANI reported.An ongoing classical dance festival and a sand art event in Puri district were called off on Friday following the formation of a cyclonic storm.

Also Watch: Cyclone Jawad Live: Alert in Andhra and Odisha, cyclonic storm is coming

Meanwhile in Andhra Pradesh, over 54,008 people from the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam have been evacuated. As many as 11 NDRF, 5 SDRF, 6 Coast Guard, and 10 Marine Police teams have been deployed in three districts of Andhra Pradesh as a precautionary measure.