India, Nov. 2 -- The Odisha government on Monday said the administration is prepared to evacuate people from vulnerable areas to shelters if required, as seven districts remained under watch after Murasu intensified into a severe cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal.

The districts likely to be affected are Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Kalahandi and Kandhamal, where the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts for rainfall, revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari said.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall in adjoining Andhra Pradesh in the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.

The minister said people who were shifted to cyclone shelters during Cyclone Arnab have returned home, but...