Meteorological department sounds red alert in Odisha over Cyclone Titli

India's Meteorological Department(IMD) said today Cyclone Titli was gaining strength in Bay of Bengal as the Odisha government braced for the situation promising "zero casualties".

Odisha hasasked people in low-lying areas to evacuate. The cyclone is likely to intensify into a severe storm during the next 24 hours in West Bengal, the Met department warned.

The IMD has forecast wind speed to be 100 to 110 kmph with gusts upto 125 kmph. The IMDalso mentioned that the Cyclone Titli will further intensify into a severe cyclonic storm on Wednesday.

"Zero casualty is part of the state government's disaster management policy. Stocking of food and shifting of people to cyclone shelters are also included in the policy," Chief Secretary A P Padhi said.

The Meteorological department has sounded a red alert in Odisha forecasting "heavy to very heavy rainfall" to "extremely heavy rainfall" in the state.

The Odisha government has declared schools and colleges to be closed from Wednesday in Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri and Jagtsinghpur.

The storm is likely to cross Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh coasts between Gopalpur and Kalingapatnam around morning of October 11. The cyclone is likely to make landfall in Odisha early on Thursday morning.