The Odisha government has announced that all schools and colleges in four districts of the state – Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri and Jagatsinghpur – will remain shut on Wednesday and Thursday as a precaution against Cyclone Titli. The cyclone is likely to make landfall near Gopalpur around 5.30 am on Thursday.

The weather department said on Wednesday that Titli has now intensified into a “very severe cyclonic storm”, and will stay so till Thursday morning. The wind speed is likely to increase to 140-150 km per hour and gusting upto 165 km per hour by Wednesday night.

The storm was centred over west-central Bay of Bengal on Wednesday morning and was moving northwards. It is likely to cause rain at most places in Odisha, with extremely heavy rain in some locations, till Friday morning.

The IMD predicted damage across three districts of Andhra Pradesh, including “total destruction of thatched houses” and “extensive damage to kutcha houses”.

In Odisha, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts are likely to receive very heavy rainfall from Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department has said, issuing a “red warning”. The government has asked collectors of the five districts to start evacuation of people living in low-lying areas, ANI quoted Odisha Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi as saying.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has asked district collectors to evacuate residents in low-lying areas of Odisha’s coast, according to The Times of India. He held a high-level meeting in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi has directed officials to identify people living near the coast in Ganjam, Khordha and Puri districts, and move them to relief shelters, NDTV reported. “Since damage to thatched huts is expected in the districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Khordha, Nayagarh and Puri, people living in kuccha houses who are likely to be affected by the cyclone shall also be evacuated,” Sethi said. At least 863 flood and cyclones shelters have also been set up, said Sethi.

The National Disaster Response Force and Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force have already been positioned in vulnerable districts, reported NDTV. An unidentified official said the Air Force and the Navy have been alerted as of now, but the state may take their help if required.

Sethi said fishermen along the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh coasts have been asked not to venture into the sea, the Hindustan Times reported. Around 300 motorboats are ready to assist rescue operations during possible floods on Wednesday and Thursday, he added.

The Congress’ Odisha unit on Wednesday opened a 24-hour emergency cell to help those likely to be affected by the cyclone, reported The Indian Express. Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee chief Niranjan Patnaik said the helpline would operate till October 16.