These states on alert as IMD points warning for Cyclone Sitrang

On Friday, Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba additionally reviewed the preparedness of Central ministries, companies and state governments to cope with the state of affairs arising out of Cyclone Sitrang creating within the Bay of Bengal in the course of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) assembly.

Also Read: IMD points Cyclone warning; very heavy rains in these states until subsequent week

Reviewing the preparedness measures of the states and Central companies, Gauba burdened that each one preventive and precautionary measures must be taken by the involved authorities of the state governments and anxious companies of the Centre, earlier than the cyclonic storm makes landfall, because the purpose must be to maintain the lack of lives to close zero and decrease harm to property and infrastructure.

“The low-pressure area formed over the north Andaman Sea is expected to move west-northwestwards and concentrate into a depression over east-central and adjoining the southeast Bay of Bengal on October 22nd, then into a deep depression on October 23,” IMD report stated.

Subsequently, by October 24, it’s fairly more likely to recurve northwards and construct right into a cyclonic storm over the west-central and neighbouring east-central Bay of Bengal. Following that, it’s anticipated to maneuver steadily north-northeastward, avoiding the Odisha coast and arriving close to the West Bengal – Bangladesh coasts on October 25.

“The Director General of India Meteorological Department (IMD), briefed the Committee about the current status of the weather system in the Bay of Bengal, which is likely to move Northwards and intensify into a Cyclonic Storm on 24th October. Thereafter it is likely to move North Eastwards and reach the West Bengal – Bangladesh coasts on 25th October, skirting the Odisha Coast. It is likely to cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal Coasts around the midnight of 25th October,” Cabinet Secretariat stated in an announcement.

As per IMD launch on climate forecast, pretty widespread rainfall with remoted heavy falls & thunderstorm/lightning are anticipated over Odisha from Twenty third-Twenty fifth and Gangetic West Bengal throughout Twenty fourth-Twenty sixth October.

“Isolated very heavy rainfall are anticipated over the Odisha on Twenty fourth & Gangetic West Bengal on the 25 October,” it added.

Sanjib Bandopadhyay, the deputy director-general of Regional Met Centre in Kolkata, said that the system is likely to cause light to moderate rain in Gangetic West Bengal, with isolated heavy rain in the coastal districts of South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur.

He said that it is likely to cause light to moderate rain in Kolkata on October 24 and 25.

“Wind pace of 45 to 55 km gusting to 65 kmph will happen within the coastal districts of South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur on October 24, whereas on October 25, wind pace will attain 90 to 100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph,” he told reporters here. Wind speed of 30 to 40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph will occur in Kolkata and adjoining districts of Howrah and Hooghly, he said.

“It is not going to be a brilliant cyclone and additional motion of the system will probably be up to date by the IMD sooner or later,” Bandopadhyay said.

Super cyclone Amphan, which ravaged the coastal districts of West Bengal in May 2020, had a wind speed of 185 kmph when it made landfall near Sundarban, officials said.

The Chief Secretaries of, Odisha and West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Spl. Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh apprised the Committee of the preparatory measures being taken to protect the population in the expected path of the cyclonic storm and measures being taken by the local administration. Fishermen out at sea have been alerted to return back and others not to venture into the sea.

“The NDRF has made its groups out there to the States and extra groups are additionally being saved in readiness. Rescue and aid groups of the Army and Navy together with ships and aircrafts have been saved prepared on standby,” the statement read.

“The purpose must be to maintain lack of lives to zero and decrease harm to property and infrastructure equivalent to energy and telecom, and in case of harm to this infrastructure, it should be restored within the shortest potential time,” Gauba said.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretaries of Odisha, West Bengal and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Spl. Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh, Secretaries of Ministries of Home Affairs, Power and representatives of Department of Telecom, Member Secretary NDMA, CISC IDS, DG NDRF, DG IMD, DG Coast Guard and senior officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

(With inputs from ANI)