In view of Cyclone Mocha intensifying into a severe cyclonic storm by Thursday midnight, the tourists and fishermen have been asked to refrain from going into the sea on May 12 and 13 in Digha, West Bengal. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have also arrived in Digha as Cyclone Mocha brews in the Bay of Bengal.
Cyclone Mocha was gaining strength and set to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm by Friday morning, packing winds of up to 135 kmph, and likely to move towards the Bangladesh-Myanmar coast, the weather office said on Thursday night.
The IMD tweeted: "Cyclonic storm Mocha over the southeast Bay of Bengal about 510 km west-southwest of Port Blair, 1190 km south-southwest of Coxs Bazar (Bangladesh). To intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by midnight of today."
The cyclonic storm lay over south-east Bay of Bengal at around 5:30 pm. The cyclonic storm is likely to intensify further on Friday morning. At 175 kmph, Cyclone Mocha will make a landfall between Cox's Bazaar and Kyaukpyu, close to port city Sittwe in Myanmar, on Sunday.
The weather office has issued an advisory for fishermen, ships, boats, and trawlers to refrain from entering the central and northeast Bay of Bengal and north Andaman Sea until Sunday. Individuals currently sailing in the central Bay of Bengal and north Andaman Sea have been advised to return to the coast.
Under the influence of the weather system, Tripura and Mizoram are likely to get heavy rainfall Saturday onwards. Nagaland, Manipur and south Assam are expected to get rainfall at many places on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has asked people to not fear from Cyclone Mocha as the state government is equipped to handle the situation. "No need to fear the cyclone. If there come different circumstances, we will rescue people from coastal areas as the cyclone will move to Bangladesh and Myanmar," Mamata Banerjee said.
