Cyclone Sitrang intensifies: Heavy rain expected over Bengal, Odisha and Northeast

Cyclone Sitrang intensifies: Heavy rain expected over Bengal, Odisha, and Northeast

As Cyclone 'Sitrang' intensifies and moves towards Bangladesh, the Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rains and gusty winds over West Bengal and the Northeast.

An Indian Air Force (IAF) plane carrying 69 National Disaster Response Force personnel landed in Agartala today.

A total of 119 NDRF personnel will be deployed in Tripura to deal with the cyclone.

At 11.30 am today, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclonic center was located 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 and cross the Bangladesh coast between  Tinkona Island and Sandwipearly tomorrow morning.

These predictions are made as Cyclone 'Chitrang' moves in a north and northeast direction and are currently 500 km south of Sagar Island and 670 km south-southwest of Barisal in Bangladesh.

"Some heavy rain activity is expected over north coastal Odisha. Heavy to very heavy rain is expected over West Bengal and some northeastern states, especially Tripura, Meghalaya, and south Assam," said Umashankar Das, IMD scientist, Bhubaneswar.

The Meteorological Department has issued a warning against marine activity in the coastal districts of Bengal today and tomorrow. These districts are North and South 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur.

"Fishermen are advised not to go to sea till October 25, 2022, as a storm has formed over the West Central Bay of Bengal and adjoining East Central Bay and is likely to intensify into a severe storm," the IMD statement said.

The administration has appointed civil security forces to protect the south 24 Barkanas River and is making arrangements to move the people along the river to safe areas.

Tripura is expected to be very vulnerable and the maximum rainfall is expected in 24 hours, the IMT said.

The Tripura government has ordered all educational institutions to be stopped till October 26, and all government employees have been allowed to work from home, except for emergency services.

Tripura, Meghalaya, and Assam have been given a "red warning" and an "orange warning" to Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh. The wind blows up to 60 km at Tripura and Mizoram, the weather office said.