Cyclone Gulab crosses Andhra, Odisha coast; 1 fisherman killed

Visakhapatnam: Cyclone Gulab made landfall in coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha on Sunday evening. IMD informed that Gulab crossed the coast about 20 km north of Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh as a cyclonic storm adding that it was likely to weaken into a deep depression. The cyclone splashed heavy rains along with strong winds over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south coastal Odisha. The coastal districts in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have been put on red alert. Cyclone Gulab is the second cyclonic storm to hit eastern coast four months after 'Yaas' wreaked havoc in Odisha.

Meanwhile, a fisherman from Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh was killed, one injured and another 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.

The Fisheries Minister contacted the Navy authorities to carry out a rescue operation. The three north coastal districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam had been receiving moderate to heavy rain under the influence of Gulab. Srikakulam, which has been in the eye of the storm, received incessant downpour with heavy wind. District Collector L Srikesh Balaji Rao said 61 relief camps have been opened in 13 mandals where close to 1,400 people have been lodged. Power supply remained cut at many places in Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam districts.

Special Relief Commissioner PK Jena informed that no major landslides had happened so far and as of 9 pm, about 39,000 people were evacuated in 6 districts of Odisha. Light to moderate rainfall was being reported from Odisha's southern districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri as well as in the central coastal districts of Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Khurda, Puri and Nayagarh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke 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," Modi said in a tweet.

Praying for the safety and well-being of everybody, he said. In another tweet, 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. IMD also said that heavy rain is likely to pound most of the districts in southern West Bengal on Tuesday owing to a low-pressure area that is developing in the Bay of Bengal. Some of the districts in the region will also receive heavy rain on Wednesday, it said.

Heavy rain is likely in one or two places in Kolkata, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Howrah, Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia districts on Tuesday. On Wednesday, heavy rain is likely in one or two places in Paschim Bardhaman, Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia districts, it said.