India prepares for landfall of second cyclone storm within week

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India prepares for landfall of second cyclone storm within week

(Xinhua) 08:37, November 26, 2013

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NEW DELHI, Nov. 26 -- India is preparing for the landfall of another stronger cyclone expected on Thursday at its southeastern coast, days after being hit by a storm in the same area last week, said local media on Tuesday.

The eastern state of Odisha has asked officials of its 10 coastal and southern districts to remain alert as cyclone "Lehar" over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm, while the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh is also on alert after being hit by a storm last week, said the Times of India.

The states also have asked fishermen who are out at sea to return to safer places.

"Lehar" hit the Indian territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Indian Ocean with a wind speed of over 110 km an hour on Sunday, and lay centred about 1,000 km southeast of Gopalpur off the Odisha coast Monday night, said meteorological officials. It would intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm and move west-north-westwards and cross the state of Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada around noon on Thursday, the meteorological officials said.

The wind speed could be 180 to 200 km an hour during landfall, much stronger than Helen, another cyclone which hit southeastern India last week which killed at least 10 with a speed of some 120 kmph.

（Editor：LiangJun、Yao Chun）