Orissa lowers alert as cyclone crosses Myanmar coast

BHUBANESWAR - Storm warning signals in Orissa were lowered Saturday as the cyclonic storm ‘GIRI’ moved northwards crossing the Myanmar coast and weakened, officials said here.

“It moved northeastwards and weakened,” an official of the Bhubaneswar meteorological centre told IANS. It had formed early this week over the northeastern part of Bay of Bengal.

The storm crossed Myanmar coast about 70 km east-southeast of Sittwe town Friday night. It lay centred about 150 km northeast of Sittwe in Myanmar, the official said adding that the system would move northeastwards further and weaken rapidly.

Orissa was on alert for nearly a week due to cyclonic storm GIRI. Storm warning signals were hoisted at all ports but they were lowered Saturday.

Though the storm was not supposed to affect the Indian coast, heavy rains were predicted.

Earlier, fishermen were also warned against venturing into the sea. They have now been allowed to do so but with caution.