Bhubaneswar

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that a well-marked low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression as of October 22. At 5:30 AM IST, it was located about 730 km southeast of Paradip, Odisha, and is expected to move west-northwest. The IMD predicts it could develop into a cyclonic storm by October 23 and a severe cyclonic storm by October 24, with winds reaching 100-110 km/h, gusting to 120 km/h. Odisha’s Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, stated that the state is fully prepared, urging residents to stay calm. Schools in 14 districts will close, and all government employees have had their leaves canceled from October 23 to 25.