The cyclone was 520 km south of Sagar Island in Bengal this morning
Kolkata, Guwahati:
The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rain and strong winds in West Bengal and Northeast as cyclonic storm ‘Sitang’ intensifies and is moving towards Bangladesh.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), at 11.30 am today, the cyclone was centered around 300 km south and southeast of Sagar Island in Bengal.
According to the IMD, the cyclone is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm early tomorrow and cross the Bangladesh coast sandwiched between Tinakona Island and Barisal.
The Meteorological Department has issued an advisory issuing warnings against offshore activities in the coastal districts of Bengal today and tomorrow. These districts are North and South 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur.
The IMD statement said, “Due to the occurrence of a cyclonic storm over West Central Bay of Bengal and adjoining East Central Bay of Bengal and likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm, fishermen are advised to remain active till 25 October 2022.” Don’t go to sea.”
The meteorological department’s advisory has predicted major damage to thatched huts, minor impact on roads and waterlogging in the affected areas.
The administration has deployed civil security forces to protect the river banks of South 24 Parganas and is also making arrangements to move people to safer places along the river banks.
The Meteorological Department has also predicted heavy rain and strong winds in the north-eastern region.
The IMD has said that Tripura is likely to be the most affected, with a maximum rainfall of 200 mm expected in 24 hours.
“Red Alert” has been issued for Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam and “Orange Alert” has been issued for Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. The Meteorological Department said that wind speed reaching 60 kmph would prevail in Tripura and Mizoram.
The Tripura government has ordered all educational institutions to remain closed till October 26 and allowed all government employees to work from home, except for emergency services.
Officials said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is ready to deal with any emergency.
According to IMD’s Regional Meteorological Center in Guwahati, gusting to 40-50 km/h and gusting to 60 km/h are very likely over Mizoram and Tripura today.
It further cautioned that wind speed reaching 50-60 km/h and reaching 70 km/h is very likely to prevail over Tripura tomorrow. Squally wind speed reaching 55 km/h and 65 km/h is very likely over Mizoram, south Assam and adjoining Meghalaya and Manipur tomorrow.