Two Odisha ports on alert over cyclone 'Helen'

Storm warning signals were raised in two Odisha ports Wednesday as deep depression over west central Bay of Bengal intensified into cyclonic storm 'Helen', officials said.

The distant storm warning signal has been raised to two from the earlier one number at the state's Paradip and Gopalpur ports, an official of the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre told IANS.

The storm which lay centred at about 520 km south of Gopalpur would further intensify into a severe cyclonic storm Thursday.

It would move west-north-westwards for some time, then west-south-westwards and cross south Andhra Pradesh coast between Sriharikota and Ongole, close to Kavali around Thursday night, he said.

There is no threat to the state's coast but a few places may see rain or thundershowers.

Fishermen of south Odisha coast have been advised to be cautious while venturing into the sea as surface wind speed of 30 to 40 km per hour gushing to 50 km per hour may prevail, he said.