Cyclone Bengal

Cyclone Mocha, May 12: Cyclone Mocha has intensified into a “very severe” cyclonic storm over the southeast and adjoining areas of central Bay of Bengal, and is expected to make landfall along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border on Sunday, packing winds of up to 150-160 km per hour, according to officials.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is closely monitoring the cyclonic storm and has predicted a storm surge of 1.5-2 meters for the low-lying coastal region of Bangladesh near Cox’s Bazaar.

To deal with any difficulties, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed eight teams and 200 rescuers in West Bengal, with an additional 100 rescuers on standby. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has also placed its units in the region on high alert.


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The IMD has asked fishermen and travelers not to venture into the central and northeast Bay of Bengal and the north Andaman Sea until Sunday. The emergency operation centers are working round the clock to handle any natural calamities, and alerts have been issued for some northeastern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands under the influence of the weather system.

The IMD said that Tripura and Mizoram will likely get heavy showers starting tomorrow, while Nagaland, Manipur, and south Assam will witness rain at isolated places on Sunday.

Each tropical cyclone is given a name by weather forecasters to avoid confusion. The name “Mocha” has been suggested by Yemen based on a small fishing village in the country known for its coffee production.