The cycloninc storm "Gulab" that formed in the Bay of Bengal off India is expected to make landfall between the northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha coast on Sunday evening.
The Indian Navy is closely monitoring the movement of the cyclone. The Navy Headquarters, Eastern Naval Command, and Naval Officers-in-Charge Odisha Area have carried out preparatory activities to combat the effects of the cyclone and are in constant contact with the state administrations to render assistance as required.
Issuing a "Red Message" (extreme rain), the India Meteorological Department said: "It is likely to move nearly westwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts with maximum sustained wind speed of 75-85 kmph gusting to 95 kmph, around midnight of Sunday. The landfall process will commence from late evening of Sunday".
The cyclone is likely to cross the Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and Viaskhapatnam districts of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, while the Ganjam, Gajapati districts of the Indian state of Odisha are expected to be in the path of the storm.
Odisha State Chief Naveen Patnaik held a meeting over Cyclone Gulab and reviewed the preparedness of districts where the cyclone is likely to make landfall.
The state government has also evacuated as many as 3,409 people and sent them to 204 shelter homes.
As many as 42 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams and 24 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) squads along with 103 units of the Odisha Fire Service have also been deployed.
Helpline numbers have additionally been issued by the Odisha government for cyclone-related information and emergency services.