Bhubaneswar :Weather experts have warned of a major cyclone storm that could hit Odisha and Andhra Pradesh  on Saturday evening.

Weather experts warn that a depression that has formed over the North Andaman Sea could intensify into a full-blown cyclonic storm in the next few hours.

In Odisha, officials of 14 coastal districts have been asked to ensure emergency plans and assistance are ready.

But in coastal Andhra Pradesh, thousands of government employees are on strike, protesting against the Centres decision to carve out the region of Telangana as its own state. The coastal regions of Seemandhra have been in shutdown mode since Friday, since the Union Cabinet green-lit the process to divide the state.

Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy met with ministers and senior administrative officials to review their arrangements. A government statement said Mr Reddy has asked for helicopters, boats and Coast Guard services to be ready to evacuate people. He has also asked officials handling power to draft exigency plans.

The depression has formed over the north Andaman Sea and was centred about 1250 km east-southeast of Paradip in Odisha,  and 1200 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.