E-Paper
Cyclone Sitrang: Storm less than 250km from Bengal, landfall likely at midnight; alerts issued in all NE states
Cyclone ‘Sitrang’ battered several coastal regions of West Bengal, and even brought downpour in Assam on Monday morning. Multiple NDRF teams have been deployed in Bengal and Tripura for relief work in preparation to deal with the storm's aftermath.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its latest bulletin on Monday said that Cyclone ‘Sitrang’ lay centered about 230 km of Sagar Island in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, and is expected to continue moving north-northeastwards before making a landfall on Bangladesh coast. Named by Thailand, the cyclone is likely to turn into a severe cyclonic storm and make the landfall between Tinkona Island and Sandwip in Bangladesh during midnight and early hours of Tuesday.
The latest cyclonic storm has already battered several coastal regions of Bengal, and even brought downpour in Assam. In preparation, many districts in Odisha, Bengal and the northeastern states of Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland and Assam, have been put on alert by the weather department.
Multiple teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in Bengal's Gangasagar, Diamond Harbour, Gosaba and Kakdwip by the district administration owing to Cyclone ‘Sitrang’.
Canning district's sub-divisional officer, A Zia, told news agency ANI that they have made arrangements for medicines and ambulances. “We will ensure there is no movements on ferry ghats and there is suspension of fishing activities. Integrated control rooms made to monitor situation,” he was quoted as saying.
Bengal's capital Kolkata, and adjoining southern districts of Howrah and Hooghly, woke up to light rain this morning and an overcast sky, raising the likelihood of a heavy downpour to dampen Diwali festivities and Kali Puja celebrations.
When ‘Sitrang’ reaches the severe cyclonic stage, heavy to very heavy rain with wind speed going to 90 to 100 kmph, gusting to 110 kmph, is likely to happen in the coastal districts of Bengal - Purba Medinipur, South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas. In Kolkata, the wind speed could reach up to 50 kmph.
In Assam, rain lashed various parts of the northeastern state on Monday morning, including Cachar, Dima Hasao, Hailakandi, and Karimgang districts. The IMD had earlier predicted heavy rainfall for three days starting today with red alerts in Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura. Besides, an orange alert has been issued for 24 hours for Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur.
IMD forecast squally wind with speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph over Tripura, Mizoram, south Assam, east Meghalaya and Manipur on Tuesday.
Multiple NDRF teams have been deployed in Tripura ahead of the landfall Cyclone ‘Sitrang’. According to local reports, as many as 119 rescue workers have been deployed in the northeastern state, of which, over 65 have already arrived.
Among the northeastern states, Arunachal Pradesh, northeast Assam and Nagaland are likely to witness rainfall on October 26 as well, the latest IMD bulletin stated.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
