Cyclone Gulab begins landfall

Cyclone Gulab has hit the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, the meteorological office tweeted this evening. The cyclone will cross the coast between Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Gopalpur in Odisha within the next three hours, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said. .

“The cloud belts have touched the coastal regions and the landing process has therefore started on the north coast of Andhra Pradesh and the adjacent south coast of Odisha. The system will cross the coasts between Kalingapatnam and Gopalpur, at approximately 25 km north of Kalingapatnam, over the next three hours, “IMD tweeted.

Cyclone Gulab is the second to strike Odisha in four months after Cyclone Yaas in May. Prime Minister Naveen Patnaik said efforts are underway to ensure there are no victims of the cyclone in the seven high-risk districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri .

“The next two hours are crucial. We expect the wind to blow at a speed of 90-100 km / h.Two NDRF teams and 4 SDRF teams arrived here. Heavy rains could lead to flooding, which is another challenge. 19 mandals in the district are prone to flooding, ”Srikakulam collector Sumit Kumar said, according to the ANI news agency. adding that the police and other teams are trying to save them.