New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The well-marked low-pressure area over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression, according to the latest bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday.

The system was centred over the same region at 5.30 p.m. on October 24, 2026, about 510 km north-northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 820 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, 910 km east-southeast of Kakinada, 1,020 km east of Machilipatnam and 1,100 km east of Bapatla in Andhra Pradesh.

According to the IMD, the depression is very likely to move nearly southwards and intensify into a deep depression before gradually recurving west-northwestwards over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on October 25.

The system is then expected to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 26. It is likely to strengthen further into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal around the morning of October 27.

The IMD has forecast that the system may intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm while moving northwestwards, reaching the west-central Bay of Bengal near the Andhra Pradesh coast around the morning of October 28.

The system is very likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28 as a very severe cyclonic storm, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 115–125 kmph and gusts reaching 140 kmph.

Odisha steps up preparedness

Meanwhile, in view of the IMD's forecast, the Odisha government has cancelled the leave of all district Collectors, District Magistrates and other officials holding key responsibilities to strengthen administrative preparedness.

The officials have been directed to return to their respective headquarters at the earliest to ensure the administration remains ready to respond to any cyclone-related emergency.

Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri are among the Odisha districts expected to be significantly affected by the weather system.

As a precautionary measure, the state government has directed that schools and Anganwadi centres in these districts remain closed on October 28 and 29. The respective District Collectors may extend the closure if the situation warrants.

Other coastal districts of Odisha are also likely to receive rainfall under the influence of the system.