Cyclonic storm 'Sitrang' is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) early Monday. It is expected to cross Bangladesh coast between Tinkona Island and Sandwip close to Barisal Tuesday morning.
The deep depression over the
Bay of Bengal had intensified into a
cyclone on Sunday evening. The system is expected to make a landfall between Tinkona island and Sandwip in Bangladesh early on October 25, the Met department was quoted by
PTI as saying.
Very heavy rain likely in Bengal
Also, Kolkata and the adjoining districts of Howrah and Hooghly are set to experience moderate to heavy rainfall on Monday, the Met said.
Torrential rain, accompanied by wind gusting up to 100 kmph and high tidal waves, may damage kutcha embankments and roads and disrupt power and communication lines in the region, it said.
The deputy director general of the regional meteorological centre here, Sanjib Bandopadhyay, said the breach of kutcha embankments, owing to the storm surge accompanied by the high astronomical tide on the new moon, may lead to seawater inundation of low-lying areas.
Tidal waves are likely to reach a height of six metres owing to the twin effect of the weather system and astronomical tide. A Kolkata Municipal Corporation official said steps are being taken to tackle any situation that may emerge in the metropolis owing to Sitrang.
"All pumping stations are fully active. People living in dilapidated buildings are being shifted to local schools or community halls," he said. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea on October 24 and 25.
Ferry services in Sunderbans and water-bound tourist activities at the seaside resort towns of Digha, Mandarmoni, Shankarpur, Bakkhali and Sagar have also been suspended as a precautionary measure. .
As per the last update by the weather department, the cyclone lay centred around 380 km south of Sagar Island on Monday morning.
Yellow alert in Odisha
Meanwhile, in Odisha, heavy rains are likely to lash certain places in the coastal districts of Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Puri till 8.30 am on Monday. A yellow warning of heavy rainfall was issued for Baleshwar, Jajapur, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack and Bhadrak on Tuesday.
The Ganjam district administration has restricted the entry of tourists to the Gopalpur beach. "The restriction was imposed as people in large numbers thronged the beach on Sunday evening despite a cyclone warning," said a senior official.
The IMD also advised hoisting of Local Cautionary Signal Number Three (LC-III) at all ports of Odisha, denoting squally weather for ships.
(With inputs from agencies)
