Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena has convened a state-level meeting on Wednesday to discuss cyclone preparedness during May-June in view of the fact that some major cyclones like Asani, Yas, Amphan, and Fani hit the state in the last four year during summer, especially in May.
Last week, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) held a district-level review meeting on the preparedness at the grassroots levels for possible cyclones this year. Usually, Odisha experiences the wrath of cyclones in May-June and also during the withdrawal of the monsoon in October and November.
With climate change, cyclones have become common in Odisha during the summer months since 2019.
In 2022, Cyclone Asani made landfall in Odisha with a wind speed of 119 kmph during May 7-11. It also caused havoc in the coastal regions of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
In 2021, a cyclone made landfall between West Bengal and Odisha between May 21 and 27 and also affected Odisha. Cyclone Amphan lasted from May 12 to 21 and passed through West Bengal and Odisha.
In 2019, Cyclone Fani made landfall in Puri and caused heavy destruction in Pilgrim Town, Khurda, and Cuttack.