Heavy Rainfall Likely In Odisha And Bengal As Cyclone Sitrang Forms In Bay of Bengal: IMD

On Sunday evening, the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm and is heading towards the Bangladesh coast, says IMD.

Waves Lash Over Onto A Damaged Shoreline (Representational Image)

Source : AFP

The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm on Sunday evening and is heading towards the Bangladesh coast, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said. Thailand has named the cyclone Sitrang, and it is expected to make landfall between Tinkona island and Sandwip in Bangladesh on Tuesday morning.

DD over WC BoB intensified into the CS SITRANG at 1730 hrs IST of 23rd Oct near lat 16.40N and long 88.10E, 580 km south of Sagar Island and 740 km south-southwest of Barisal (Bangladesh). To move north-northeastwards and cross Bangladesh coast between Tinkona Island and Sandwip

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 23, 2022

The cyclone was 580 kilometres south of Sagar Island in West Bengal and 740 kilometres south-southwest of Barisal in Bangladesh at 5.30 p.m. on Sunday.

It would continue to move north-northeastwards and cross the Bangladesh coast, between Tinkona Island and Sandwip, around October 25 morning, the IMD forecast.

Heavy Rainfall Likely In Odisha And West Bengal

The IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into the deep sea area of central Bay of Bengal from Saturday, and along and off Odisha and Bengal coasts between October 23 and 26.

According to the IMD, parts of Odisha and West Bengal are likely to receive heavy rainfall as a result of its impact.

Sanjib Bandopadhyay, the deputy director-general of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata told PTI that isolated places in North-24 Parganas and South-24 Parganas districts will get heavy to very heavy rainfall on October 24. Paschim Medinipur may experience heavy showers on that day.

The following day, Nadia, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas are likely to get heavy rainfall, Bandopadhyay said. On both days, Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly may experience moderate rainfall, he informed.

Preparations for cyclonic storm 'Sitrang' in South 24 Parganas are underway, with security forces deployed along river banks, news agency ANI reported. 

West Bengal | Preparations underway in view of cyclonic storm 'Sitrang' in South 24 Parganas; security forces deployed along river banks pic.twitter.com/I2ZHh1DRBy

— ANI (@ANI) October 23, 2022

Ferry services have been suspended in the Sundarban area, he said. Water-based sporting activities, too, have been put on hold in the beach towns of Mandarmoni and Digha, Bandopadhyay added.

(With Inputs From Agencies)