Depression intensifies into deep depression, three fishermen go missing

By Nalini Sahu
Bhubaneswar, Oct 15: Life in coastal parts of Orissa was on Friday thrown out of gear as the depression formed over the Bay of Bengal intensified and turned to a deep depression, triggering heavy rainfall in coastal parts of Orissa. At least three fishermen, who ventured into sea off Paradip coast on Wednesday, reportedly went missing due to rough weather. A team of Indian Coast Guards headed by Commandant Saroj Sahoo has been deployed in search operation. The missing fishermen are natives of Sandhakuda village in Jagatsinghpur village, local police said. Stormy weather and heavy spells of rains completely disrupted normal life and dampened Durga Puja celebrations in coastal cities like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur and Balasore. According to local Met office director Dr Sarat Sahoo, the deep depression, which lay centered at about 150 km south-east of Puri and 220 km east-south-east of Gopalpur in the afternoon, was like to move in north-westward direction and cause downpour in most parts of coastal Orissa and central Orissa districts. The depression, as the Met office forecast, would cross the Orissa coast between Gopalpur and Paradip by Friday evening. “Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore districts and a few places over interior region would experience heavy down pour in the next 24 hours,” the weather forecast said. Local Cautionary signal number-III was kept hoisted in ports of Orissa. “Squally winds with speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph would occur along and off Orissa coast, while sea condition would remain very rough,” the Met office. Fishermen were asked not to venture into the sea.
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