Cyclonic storm likely to bring heavy rain in coastal Bengal districts from May 19

A cyclonic storm brewing within the Bay of Bengal lay 1220 km south-southwest of Digha in West Bengal on Saturday and is more likely to carry heavy to very heavy rain within the coastal districts of the state from May 19.

The state authorities has equipped for rescue and reduction operations.

The system is more likely to intensify right into a extreme cyclonic storm by Sunday night and transfer north-northwestwards until May 17, regional Met director G Ok Das stated.

It may be very more likely to recurve north-northeastwards thereafter in direction of West Bengal coast from May 18 to 20, he stated.

Under its influence, the coastal districts of Gangetic West Bengal, together with North and South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, East and West Midnapore, Howrah and Hooghly will expertise heavy to very heavy rain on May 19 and 20, Das stated.

West Bengal Home secretary Alapan Bandopdhyay stated that the complete state equipment is ready to cope with the state of affairs.

Disaster administration groups are being despatched to cyclone shelters within the coastal areas and different locations for rescue and reduction operations, he stated.

Bandopadhyay stated that provisions have been made for sustaining social distancing norms at these shelters in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He stated that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) groups are additionally there for rescue and reduction operations.

The state chief secretary held a gathering with involved officers on Saturday night to take inventory of preparations and the motion of the cyclone, he stated.

Fishermen have been suggested to not enterprise into North Bay of Bengal alongside and off West Bengal-Odisha coasts from May 18 to 21 and people who are out within the sea had been requested to return to coasts by May 17.

Sea situation can be very excessive to phenomenal over north Bay of Bengal on May 19 and 20, the regional Met director stated.

Wind velocity alongside and off the coastal areas of West Bengal will attain 45 to 55 kmph with gusts of 65 kmph from May 19 afternoon and can step by step enhance to 75 to 85 kmph with gusts upto 90 kmph from May 20 morning, the weatherman stated.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has additionally ready itself for maritime search and rescue operations.

“All out efforts have been made in the maritime states of West Bengal and Odisha in co-ordination with the state administration and Fisheries department,” the ICG has stated.

The ICG ships and plane on patrol are directing fishing boats working at sea to return to harbour for security, it stated.