The Odisha government on Friday said that cyclone Sitrang would not touch the Odisha coast and asked people not to panic.

The low-pressure system over the north Andaman Sea and the south-east Bay of Bengal is likely to move west-northwestwards and concentrate into a depression by Saturday morning.

The system is expected to further intensify into a cyclonic storm by Monday and reach the coasts of Bengal and Bangladesh the next day skirting the Odisha coast.

Special relief commissioner (SRC) P.K. Jena on Friday said: “The cyclone will not touch the Odisha coast. It will move parallel to the Odisha coast. Under its impact, there will be rainfall, starting from October 24. People should not panic. We have asked the fishermen to return from the sea by Saturday morning and not to venture into the deep sea till October 26. Though it will not touch the Odisha coast, its impact can be felt inside the sea.”

Jena said: “Its centre would lay centred around 200 km east of Dhamra in Bhadrak, Under its impact, there will be wind with a velocity of 50-60km, that can be seen in the state.”

The latest forecast of the IMD about the system to be called Sitrang has brought some relief to the people of Odisha but the state remains on high alert. However, Odisha has been bracing for heavy rainfall early next week under the impact of the possible cyclone. The Diwali celebration is likely to be affected.

The IMD in its press release said: “It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and concentrate into a Depression over the south east and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal on October 22 and then moving northwestwards intensify further into a deep Depression over east central and adjoining south east Bay of Bengal on October 23. Subsequently, it’s very likely to recurve gradually northwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm over central and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal by October 24. Thereafter, it is likely to move north, north-eastwards and reached near Bengal-Bangla coasts on October 25, skirting Odisha coast.”

Director general, IMD, Dr Mrutunjay Mohapatra has maintained that while there was no possibility of the storm making landfall in Odisha, the state is expected to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall. Firecracker sellers and festive celebrations are likely to be hit by the system. The government has alerted eight coastal districts asking them to take precautionary measures.

Revenue and disaster management minister Pramila Mallick said that instructions have been issued to all the districts and coastal region authorities to deal with any eventuality.