Cyclone Mocha has intensified into a “very severe” cyclonic storm today over the southeast and adjoining areas of the central Bay of Bengal. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclonic storm is likely to recurve by today. By Saturday, the cyclone would be on its peak intensity.
Advertisement
Advertisement
“The SCS “Mocha” intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm, lay centered at 05:30 hours IST of 12th May 2023 over central adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal near latitude 13.2N and long 88.1E, about 520 km west-northwest of Port Blair,” the IMD said.
The VSCS “Mocha", lay centered at 0830 hours IST of 12th May 2023 over Central and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal near lat 13.6N & long 88.2E, about 530 km west-northwest of Port Blair and 870 km south-southwest of Sittwe (Myanmar). pic.twitter.com/wN50aosYRH
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 12, 2023
According to ANI, Uma Shankar Das, IMD Scientist, Bhubaneswar said, “Cyclone Mocha has intensified further into a very severe cyclone storm over the South-East Bay of Bengal adjoining with central Bay of Bengal region. Now it is moving with a speed of 9km per hour towards north direction.”
In view of the cyclone, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 8 teams and 200 rescuers in West Bengal’s Digha after warnings about cyclone ‘Mocha’ intensifying into a severe storm. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has also placed its units in the region on high alert.
Meanwhile, alert has been issued, by IMD, for some northeastern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as well under the influence of the weather system. According to the IMD, Tripura and Mizoram are likely to get heavy showers tomorrow onwards, while Nagaland, Manipur and south Assam will also witness rain at isolated places on Sunday,
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), which closely monitors the cyclonic storm, said the cyclone will gradually intensify into a severe cyclone by Sunday. It’s expected to make landfall along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, packing winds of up to 150-160 km per hour. The IMD has predicted a storm surge of 1.5-2 meters for the low-lying coastal region of Bangladesh near Cox’s Bazaar.
Advertisement