Baripada: The Similipal National Park in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj districts will remain out of bounds for tourists for 2 days (December 4-5).
The decision has been taken as a precautionary measure in view of impending cyclone Jawad and heavy rainfall forecast for Odisha.
According to the IMD, the deep depression over westcentral adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm over central parts of the Bay of Bengal during the next 12 hours and reach the west-central Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh – south Odisha coasts on Saturday morning.
Thereafter, it is likely to move north-northeastwards along the coastline with a maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph.
Red warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy falls has been issued for the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri and Jagatsinghpur on December 4. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely to at one or two places in Kendrapada, Cuttack, Khordha, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Koraput while Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Malkangiri are likely to experience heavy rainfall the same day.
On December 5, heavy to very heavy rainfall (Orange warning) is likely to occur at one or two places over in Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Cuttack, and Puri, while heavy rainfall is expected in Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal, Nayagarh, Khordha, Ganjam and Gajapati.
According to private weather forecaster Skymet, Ganjam, Gajapati, Chatrapur, Berhampur, Jagatsinghpur and Baripada will be at high risk of heavy rains and flooding when the weakened storm will move parallel along the coast of Odisha and West Bengal.
Notably, the entry to the park was restricted from November 15 due to unseasonal rain and foggy weather, barely a fortnight after being reopened.
Also Read: Odisha’s Similipal National Park Reopens Next Month; Know The Rules & How To Book For Night Halt
