THE landfall process of cyclone Gulab has started on Sunday evening and it may continue for about three hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said here. The system hit the landmass between Kalingapatanam in Andhra Pradesh and Gopalpur in Odisha. “As per the latest meteorological observations, the cloud bands have touched the coastal regions and thus the landfall process has commenced over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south coastal Odisha,” the IMD said in a statement. During the landfall, the wind speed of the cyclone is about 90 kmph, an official said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and assured him of all support from the Centre to face the challenges posed by the cyclone.

 

6 AP fishermen missing as Gulab inches closer to coast: SIX fishermen from Srikakulam district in north coastal Andhra Pradesh were reported missing in Bay of Bengal on Sunday evening as the cyclonic storm Gulab moved closer to the shore and is likely to make landfall around midnight. The three north coastal districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam had been receiving moderate to heavy rain under the influence of Gulab. AP State Disaster Management Authority Commissioner K Kanna Babu said Gulab lay centered around 85 km from Kalingapatnam in Srikakulam district and likely to cross the coast between Kalingapatnam and Gopalpur (in Odisha) around midnight. He reviewed the situation with the district Collectors and other officials in Visakhapatnam and directed them to be on high alert. Six fishermen from Palasa, who returning to their native village by sea, were feared missing in the storm. One of the six called his village over phone and informed that their boat lost balance and five of his fellow fishermen were lost in the sea.