IANS

Bhubaneswar, May 25: Tidal waves caused by a severe cyclonic storm in Bay of Bengal Monday inundated more than two thousand acres of land and dozens of houses in Orissa's coastal region, officials said. However, there was no report of any deaths or injuries

Cyclone Aila over north-west Bay of Bengal, intensified further and lay centred Monday afternoon close to southeast of Sagar Island, the meteorological office here said in a bulletin.

The system is likely to move in a north-north-easterly direction and cross the West Bengal coast within a few hours, it said.

Tidal waves have inundated land and caused breaches in at least three embankments in coastal villages under Rajnagar block in Orissa's Kendrapada district, some 150 km from the state capital.

The state government Monday said all fishing operations in the sea have been suspended and fishermen have been alerted not to venture out to sea.

"No death or injuries have been reported from any part of the affected regions," state revenue Secretary G.V.V. Sarma told IANS.

"The tidal water covered more than two thousand acres of land in seaside villages and caused breaches in three embankments," district collector Sisirkanta Panda told IANS.

Hundreds of residents of Kanpura village have moved to safer places after the tidal water entered their village. Officials have rushed to provide them relief, he said.

Several parts of the coastal districts have been witnessing moderate to heavy rain since Sunday afternoon. The meteorological office said gale winds of speed reaching 70-80 km per hour are likely to occur along and off the coast during next 38 hours.

Gale winds, with speeds reaching 100-110 km per hour and gusting up to 120 km per hour, are likely to prevail along and off north Orissa coast during next six hours, it said.

The danger signal number has been raised to seven and five at Chandbali and at Paradip ports and three at rest of the state's two ports, it said.