President Droupadi Murmu’s planned two-day trip to India’s coast state of Odisha has been postponed as there is a possibility a cyclonic storm may hit the southern region next week, the officials said Saturday.
The President had planned to visit Rairangpur on October 28 and her hometown of Mayurbhanj on October 29. Officials said it was postponed as a precaution because of the unfavourable weather and safety issues, however.
But the President’s visit has been postponed because of “unfavourable weather predictions and security measures,” an official from the Chief Secretary’s office said.
Visit Rescheduled for November 4-5
The District administration of Mayurbhanj had announced that the President Droupadi Murmu’s arrival has not been suspended but will be rescheduled. Co-chairperson of the CCS, now she has been expected to go to Mayurbhanj on November 4 and 5.
The updated timing follows special weather system regulator’s watch over the evolving weather phenomenon in the Bay of Bengal. The announcement didn’t include additional information about the President’s schedule for the redesignated visit.
Cyclone Threat Prompts Precautionary Measures
A low-pressure area that formed in the Bay of Bengal is expected to become a cyclonic storm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Saturday.
The weather department’s forecasts indicated that if the system takes landfall, it will develop in Andhra Pradesh along the India-Bangladesh border on the morning of October 28 form the coast of south Odisha to north Andhra Pradesh.
The possible effects on coastal districts have prompted measures to take into precautionary consideration due to the impact on the way of travelling and to the public safety before this possible event.
This postponement “to enable the President’s programme to proceed in more secure conditions. The system will probably be monitored by authorities as it moves and updates will be issued when the weather changes.
President Droupadi Murmu has decided to re-schedule the November visit and have a scheduled visit to Mayurbhanj when appropriate.