Bhubaneswar, May 20: Cyclonic storm Roanu formed over west central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal was hovering around the Bay of Bengal some 50km off the Gopalpur coast around 2.30pm, said a Met official.

The storm would intensify into severe cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours and cross south Bangladesh coast between Khepupara and Cox's Bazar, close to Chittagong tomorrow evening.

An worried state government today asked collectors of 12 districts to stay alert and take all precautionary steps. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik asked collectors of Cuttack, Khurda, Jajpur, Nayagarh, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Puri, Ganjam and Gajapati to ensure that they stock dry food, drinking water and have provisions for first aid.

Met officials said that gusty cyclonic surface wind with a speed of 90-100km/hour would prevail in south Odisha coast. In the north, it is likely to reach 80km/hour.

"Danger signal number five has been hoisted at all ports in the state. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea in Odisha coast," said director of regional meteorological centre, Bhubaneswar, Sarat Chandra Sahu.

"Under the impact of the cyclonic storm, heavy to heavy rainfall is likely to occur at one or two places along coastal Odisha in next 24 hours. Similarly, one or two places in interior Odisha is likely to receive the same," Sahu added.

To government has also sounded the alert to avert any calamity.

Revenue and disaster management department secretary Mona Sharma said that headmasters and teachers of schools had been asked to remain present if any emergency situation arose.

"As many as 10 teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force have been put on alert to tackle any emergency. Besides, fire officials and National Disaster Response Force teams are also on alert," said Sharma.