NEW DELHI: The India Meteorological Department (MET) tweeted on Sunday, September 26, that Cyclone Gulab had hit the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The cyclone crossed the coasts between Kalingapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, and Gopalpur, Odisha, before it finally weakened into a deep depression.
The cyclone weakened into a depression at 0230 hours IST over north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha. It is predicted to move further west-northwestwards and will further weaken into a depression, MET tweeted. This is the second time a cyclone has hit Odisha within a period of four months after Cyclone Yaas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and assured them of all required assistance from the Government of India. CM Patnaik also said that the administration is putting all efforts to ensure no casualities in the high-risk districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangapur and Malkangiri.
Almost 42 teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and 24 of the National Disaster Response Force are being released to such areas, along with 100 teams of firefighters.