Cyclonic storm 'Komen' weakens into deep depression, high alert in Odisha

Cyclonic storm 'Komen' hit the Bangladesh coast on Thursday evening, triggering heavy rainfall in Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha, according to reports on Friday.

Cyclonic storm 'Komen' weakens into deep depression, high alert in Odisha Cyclonic storm 'Komen' weakened into deep depression, high alert was sounded in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Cyclonic storm 'Komen', which made landfall in Bangladesh yesterday evening,  weakened into a deep depression on Friday even as the MeT department forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall coupled with squally surface wind in several places in Odisha.

After weakening into deep depression, the system moved West-Northwestwards and lay centred over Bangladesh, about 360 km north east of Balasore. It would further move West-Northwestwards and weaken into a depression in the next 24 hours, it said.

Under its impact, rain and thundershower would occur in most places in Odisha. Heavy to very heavy rainfall in some places with isolated extremely heavy rainfall would occur in northern part of the state and heavy rainfall at one or two places in southern part in the next 24 hours.

The Danger Signal Number Five (D-V) was replaced by Local Cautionary Signal Number Three (LC-III) at all ports in the state, the MeT office said.

Squally surface wind with speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph gusting up to 65 kmph would prevail along and off Odisha Coast. Sea condition would be rough to very rough, it said.

Jharkhand will also witness heavy to very heavy rains on July 31 and August 1.

Mritunjay Mohapatra, head of the Cyclone Warning Division of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of heavy rainfall at most places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy at isolated places over the Gangetic West Bengal between July 30-31 and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places on August 1.

"Isolated places in Odisha will also witness heavy to very heavy rainfall at most places today and heavy to very heavy rains at a few places with isolated extremely heavy rains on July 31 and August 1," he was quoted as saying by media reports.

There would be rains at most places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over the north-eastern states of Mizoram, Tripura and south Assam on July 30-31.

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall has inundated several villages in Odisha and Gujarat, disrupting the power supply and killing several people across the two states.

The Odisha government has also sounded an alert in view of the advancing cyclonic storm "Komen", which is expected to precipitate heavy to very heavy rainfall in the coastal areas in the next 24 hours.

Water Resources Secretary Pradeep Jena said district collectors have been asked to remain alert to deal with the possible impact of "Komen".

The Met department has warned fishermen not to venture into the sea during the period.

He said that water in the Baitarani, Subarnarekha and Budhabalanga rivers, which was flowing above the danger mark on Wednesday, was now receding.