Amid intense heatwave in Northern and Central India, the coastal regions of the country are bracing for yet another cyclone that will hit the Indian East Coast next week.

The weather system over the South Andaman Sea and the adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal is very likely to move north-westwards and strengthen into a depression by Saturday, the Met Department said.

It is likely to further intensify into a cyclonic storm by Sunday evening.

“A low pressure area is very likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a depression over southeast Bay of Bengal by 7th May evening and into a cyclonic storm over eastcentral Bay of Bengal by 8th May evening. It is very likely to continue to move northwestwards and reach westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts on 10th May,” the IMD said in its bulletin on Friday.

A heavy rainfall warning has been issued for Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in view of the cyclone. The weather office also warned of thunderstorms and heavy rainfall over the districts of Gangetic West Bengal between Tuesday and Friday next week in view of the likely formation of the cyclonic storm.

The Odisha government said disaster response and fire services teams were kept on standby following the forecast. It is likely to reach the coast on May 10, he said.

The region has witnessed cyclones in the last three summers -- 'Yaas' in 2021, 'Amphan' in 2020 and 'Fani' in 2019.

According to Odisha Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Jena,20 teams of ODRAF (Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force), 17 teams of NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and 175 teams of fire department personnel have been requisitioned. Apart from this, the National Disaster Response Force has been requested to reserve 10 more teams in case of more emergencies.

He also added that the Indian Navy and Coast Guard have also been put on alert to maintain a vigil on fishermen’s movement in the sea.

Further, the telecom service providers and energy department have been immediately asked to take up restoration work in case the towers get affected.