Indian naval ships, aircraft on standby for Cyclonic Storm 'Gulab'

"The Indian Navy is closely monitoring the movement of the Cyclonic Storm and is in constant liaison with the state administrations for rendering assistance as required," a release from the Ministry of Defence said.

As part of the preparedness, Flood Relief Teams and Diving Teams have already been positioned at Odisha and are ready at Visakhapatnam to render immediate assistance. Two Naval ships are at sea with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) material and medical teams to render assistance in the most affected areas.

Naval aircraft are kept ready at Naval Air Stations, INS Dega at Visakhapatnam and INS Rajali near Chennai to undertake an aerial survey of the most affected areas, casualty evacuation, and airdrop of relief material as required, the release added.

The Cyclonic Storm 'Gulab' (pronounced as Gul-Aab) lay centred over west central Bay of Bengal, about 140 kms east-southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha) & 190 kms east-northeast of Kalingapatnam (Andhra  Pradesh) at 11.30 a.m. on Sunday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its bulletin.

It is likely to move nearly westwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh - south Odisha coasts between Kalingapatnam and Gopalpur, as a Cyclonic Storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 75-85 kmph  gusting to 95 kmph, by mid-night of September 26 and the landfall process will commence late evening.

Alerts have been issued for heavy rains, strong winds and surge in tidal waves among other effects of the cyclonic storm.