Cyclone forecast: Here’s how West Bengal is preparing for ‘Sitrang’

Cyclone 'Sitrang' is likely to recurve towards West Bengal-Bangladesh border. Hence, in the wake of the cyclone forecast, the West Bengal government has reportedly initiated the process of evacuating people from the low-lying areas in several coastal districts.

The Mamata Banerjee government has begun the process of evacuating people in several parts of the state like Purba Medinipore, South 24 Parganas and Sundarbans to safe places, a senior official told PTI.

“Leaves of all district magistrates, SPs and emergency department workers have already been cancelled as a part of the preparedness for the possible cyclone,” he said.

Live Updates | Depression forms over southeast BoB, rain warning for these Odisha districts

The officer further informed that tarapauline, dry food and medicines have been adequately stocked by the government in the districts which are likely to get affected by the cyclone.

Besides, the Kolkata Police's disaster management team has reportedly been directed to work in tandem with the officials of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to address any emergency-like situation at the earliest.

Moreover, the West Bengal CM has convened an emergency meeting at the state secretariat 'Nabanna' on Friday to take a stock of the preparedness for the possible cyclone so far.

Meanwhile, the cyclone will also have impact on the neighbouring state of Odisha. As per the Bhubaneswar Met Centre heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore and Cuttack on October 24 and 25.

As per the IMD forecast, the low pressure area is very likely to move west-northwestwards and concentrate into a depression over Eastcentral and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal around October 22 and into a deep depression on October 23.

“It is very likely to recurve northwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm over westcentral and adjoining Eastcentral Bay of Bengal by October 24. Thereafter, it is likely to move gradually north- northeastwards and reach near West Bengal - Bangladesh coasts on October 25, skirting Odisha coast,” IMD’s bulletin read.