High alert: Cyclone Gulab to make landfall on Sunday, Odisha, AP to be hit

A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal will intensify into a cyclonic storm which will make landfall on Sunday evening in the coastal regions of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday evening said that Cyclone Gulab has formed in the Bay of Bengal.

The IMD has warned of very heavy to extremely heavy rain over south Odisha, north coastal Andhra Pradesh. Heavy rain is also likely over Telangana, north interior Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Due to rough sea conditions and intense winds, fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea till Monday.

Odisha government has made necessary preparations to tackle flash floods, landslides and waterlogging. Odisha Special Relief Commissioner PK Jena directed district collectors to mobilise necessary resources and carry out evacuation process in vulnerable areas.

Around 42 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams and 24 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams will be deployed in seven districts, along with 102 teams of Odisha Fire Services, to carry out search and rescue operations.