The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal strengthened into a cyclone on Monday evening, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), although it would have little influence on the Indian coast, news agency PTI reported. The cyclonic storm has been named 'Hamoon' by Iran. The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal raced north at 14 kmph over the previous six hours and strengthened into a cyclonic storm, according to the IMD. At 5.30 p.m., the system was about 230 kilometres off the coast of Odisha's Paradip, 360 kilometres south of Digha in West Bengal, and 510 kilometres south-southwest of Khepupara in Bangladesh, according to the report.
"It is likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm over northwest Bay of Bengal during the next 12 hours," the IMD was quoted by PTI in its report.
The system is expected to cross the Bangladesh coast as a deep depression about 12 p.m. on October 25 between Khepupara and Chittagong.
The Odisha government has instructed that all district collectors stay prepared for any eventuality, and that people be evacuated from low-lying regions in the case of severe rain.
"The system (cyclone) will move over the sea around 200 km from Odisha coast," weather scientist U S Dash said.
Dash further warned that due to its effect, mild to moderate rainfall is expected in a few locations along the Odisha coast on Monday and in many places during the next two days.
Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the IMD, stated that the wind speed over the Bay of Bengal will progressively increase to 80-90 kmph with gusts up to 100 kmph by Tuesday morning.
He stated that the cyclone would have no direct influence on Odisha, but that some Durga Puja pandals that are not sturdy enough to endure such wind speeds may be damaged.
Under the impact of the system, Odisha received roughly 15 mm of rain in the previous 24 hours. The meteorological service predicts that light to moderate rain will persist in coastal regions on Monday and Tuesday.
Heavy rain (7-11 cm) is expected in one or two locations in Bhadrak, Kendrapada, and Jagatsinghpur till 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday.
The IMD has also requested that fishermen refrain from fishing in the west-central Bay of Bengal till Wednesday, as well as along and off the Odisha coast and the north Bay of Bengal from Monday to Wednesday.
Meanwhile, in adjacent West Bengal, thunderstorms with lightning and moderate rainfall are expected in portions of Purba Medinipur, Kolkata, and South 24 Parganas districts on Monday and Tuesday.
Light to heavy rain in certain areas of the state hampered the festive spirit of revellers on 'Nabami,' but thousands braved the elements with colourful umbrellas at various Durga Puja pandals.