Cyclone Sitrang: 'Deep Depression' Intensifies into Cyclonic Storm South of Sagar Island, to Further Intensify

The deep depression over Bay of Bengal intensified into cyclonic storm Sitrang on Sunday evening, the India Meterological Department (IMD) said. The cyclone made landfall 580 km south of Sagar Island and 740 km south-southwest of Barisal in Bangladesh at around 5:30 pm on Sunday. It is  is expected to cross Bangladesh coast between Tinkona Island and Sandwip on October 25, an IMD forecast said.

IMD earlier said the storm will mainly impact the Sunderbans over the Bay of Bengal. Under its impact, Odisha and West Bengal would see heavy rainfall in isolated places.

The cyclonic storm is very likely to further intensify into a more severe one on Monday with wind speed reaching 90 to 100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph, an IMD forecast said

“The main affected area will be the Sunderbans in the coastal areas of North and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal and in Bangladesh,” Deputy Director General of Regional Met Centre, Sanjib Bandopadhyay, said.

The deep depression might even turn into a cyclonic storm over central Bay of Bengal. Thereafter, it would recurve and move north-northeastwards and cross Bangladesh coast between Tinkona Island and Sandwip.

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) under Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba reviewed the preparedness of Central Ministries/Agencies, and State/UT Governments for the possible cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal on Friday.

The Chief Secretaries of, Odisha and West Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar Islands  and the Special 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.

Here are the latest updates about Cyclone Sitrang:

• The deep depression over Bay of Bengal intensified into cyclonic storm Sitrang at 5:30 pm on Sunday.
• The India Meteorological Department on Sunday predicted that Cyclone Sitrang will mainly impact the Sunderbans, when it makes landfall over the Bay of Bengal.
• The development comes as people gear up to celebrate Kali Puja and Diwali in a big way after two years, amid easing Covid cases and curbs.
• Heavy rain and wind gusts up to 100 kmph are likely to hit the coastal areas of West Bengal as a deep depression over Bay of Bengal intensifies into a possible cyclone by Sunday evening, dampening Kali Puja and Diwali festivities in large parts of the state.
• The Depression over eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards with a speed of 17 kmph during past 6 hours, intensified into a Deep Depression.
• Isolated heavy rain is very likely over Arunachal Pradesh on October 24-25; Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura on October 24.
• IMD predicted isolated extremely heavy falls also very likely over south Assam,Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura on October 25.
• The cyclone is very likely to move northwestward and intensify further into a Deep Depression over eastcentral Bay of Bengal by October 23.
• The cyclone is very likely to recurve gradually north-northeastwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm over central Bay of Bengal by October 24. It would continue to move northnortheastwards and cross Bangladesh coast between Tinkona Island and Sandwip around October 25 early morning.
• The NDRF has made its teams available to the States and additional teams are also being kept in readiness. Rescue and relief teams of the Army and Navy along with ships and aircrafts have been kept ready on standby.
• Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Friday reviewed preparedness measures of the States and Central Agencies. He stressed that preventive and precautionary measures should be taken by concerned authorities of State/UT Governments and concerned Central Agencies.
• The Cabinet Secretary said fishermen at sea should be called back and it must be ensured that people from vulnerable areas are evacuated well in time before the storm.
• The Cabinet Secretary assured the State/UT Governments that all Central agencies are ready and will be available for assistance.
• Odisha’s special relief commissioner Pradeep Kumar Jena has alerted the collectors of seven districts that may be impacted by the storm, Hindustan Times reported.

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