Bengal On Alert As Cyclone Mocha Crosses Bangladesh-Myanmar Coastlines, To Weaken In Next 3 Hours — Updates

Disaster Management Force personnel were put on high alert along the coastal regions of Purba Medinipur and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal. Cyclone Mocha is developing into a severe storm.

Disaster Management Force personnel were put on high alert along the coastal regions of Purba Medinipur and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal. This was done in view of Cyclone Mocha developing into a extremely severe cyclonic storm, which began landfall on the coastlines of Bangladesh and Myanmar on Sunday. At least seven groups of NDRF personnel including divers were deployed in Digha-Mandarmani coastal regions in West Benagal’s Purba Medinipur district, said an official, as reported by PTI.

Cyclone Mocha Landfall Over Bangladesh, Myanmar Coasts

Super cyclone Mocha has already started hitting the coastlines of Bangladesh and Myanmar on Sunday after intensifying into the equivalent of a category-five storm. The "Extremely severe" cyclonic storm made landfall over the Myanmar-Bangladesh coasts, the weather office said.

"MOCHA crossed north Myanmar-SE Bangladesh coasts between Kyaukpyu (Myanmar) and Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh) close to the north of Sittwe (Myanmar) near lat 20.25 N and long 92.75 E as an ESCS during 1230 to 1430 IST of 14 May. System will weaken into VSCS during next 3 hrs," a tweet by the  India Meteorological Department (IMD) read.

The powerful cyclone is bringing heavy rain and winds of up to 195 kph. It could cause dangerous flooding in areas around the Bay of Bengal.

The storm could swamp villages in low-lying areas and may hit the world's largest refugee camp, Cox's Bazar. There are over one million displaced Muslim Rohingya refugees living in makeshift camps.

Tidal surges of five to seven feet above normal are also likely to affect the low-lying parts of Feni, Noakhali, Laxmpur, Chandpur, and Bhola, bdnews24.com reported.

Meteorologists had warned Mocha could be the most powerful storm seen in Bangladesh in nearly two decades. Around 500,000 people have been evacuated to safer areas so far.

Preparations In West Bengal, Fisherman Advised Not To Go Into Sea

More than 100 state disaster management group personnel have also been deployed in Bakkhali sea beach in South 24 Parganas district to monitor the movement of tourists and locals. Most visitors have been forbidden to go near the sea, said the official, as reported by PTI.

Almost all arrangements have been made and necessary steps have been taken to evacuate residents of coastal areas in both districts.

Another official, familiar with the situation, said, "Though the weather office has predicted that Cyclone Mocha will dodge past West Bengal, we have taken all precautionary measures in case there is any change.”

The official further said, as quoted by PTI, “We have shifted people living in the low-lying coastal areas of Purba Medinipur, South 24 Parganas to our safe shelters and adequate relief materials have been sent to these areas.”

Meanwhile, fishermen have been warned not to go into the sea for three days from Friday.