Southern districts of Odisha were placed on high alert Tuesday night as the likelihood of increased rainfall loomed due to the impact of severe cyclone Michaung, which had made landfall in neighboring Andhra Pradesh, officials reported. The storm hit land in the afternoon near Bapatla, between Nellore and Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, boasting a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 110 kmph. Initial reports indicated light rainfall in districts such as Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Ganjam, Gajapati, and Kalahandi in Odisha, and officials anticipated a rise in intensity overnight.
Following landfall, the cyclone was expected to move northwards and weaken into a depression, according to officials. Gyana Das, the Additional Special Relief Commissioner, noted that the maximum recorded rainfall in the affected districts by evening was 50 mm. Authorities in Koraput closely monitored the situation and implemented precautionary measures in anticipation of increased rainfall within the next 24 hours. Rayagada deployed two teams of the ODRAF to address potential landslides and road blockades. The weather office predicted a high likelihood of heavy rainfall in Rayagada from Wednesday to Friday.
District officials in Rayagada urged field staff to remain on maximum alert, emphasizing the swift collection of reports on crop or house damage for necessary district-wide responses. Fishermen were advised to avoid venturing into the deep sea along and off the Odisha coast until December 6. Severe cyclonic storm Michaung made landfall along the south Andhra Pradesh coast between 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm, impacting Chennai and adjoining areas in Tamil Nadu on Monday.
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