By India Today News Desk: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday issued an alert that Cyclone mocha is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm in the next six hours over Central Bay of Bengal.
Thereafter, the cyclone is likely to continue to move north-northeastwards with further intensification, the weather department warned.
It is likely to cross southeast Bangladesh and north Myanmar coasts between Cox Bazar in Bangladesh and Kyaukpyu in Myanmar, close to Sittwe around noon of May 14 as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 150-160 kmph gusting to 175 kmph, said IMD.
The SCS “Mocha” lay centered at 0230 hours IST of 12th May 2023 over Southeast adjoining Central Bay of Bengal about 520 km west-northwest of Port Blair. pic.twitter.com/RUHLs9MFSx
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 11, 2023
In view of the cyclone, eight teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in West Bengal. NDRF 2nd Battalion Commandant, Gurminder Singh, said, “Cyclone Mocha will convert into a severe storm on May 12 & a very severe cyclone on May 14, as per the predictions. We’ve deployed 8 teams. 200 rescuers of NDRF deployed on ground and 100 rescuers on standby.”
West Bengal | #CycloneMocha will convert into a severe storm on May 12 & a very severe cyclone on May 14, as per the predictions. We’ve deployed 8 teams. 200 rescuers of NDRF deployed on ground and 100 rescuers on standby: Gurminder Singh, Commandant, 2nd Battalion, NDRF (11.05) pic.twitter.com/NjK6bgrJAS
— ANI (@ANI) May 11, 2023
The weather agency on Thursday issued rainfall alerts for several northeastern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the view of cyclonic storm ‘Mocha’. These areas are likely to receive heavy rainfall due to the movement of the cyclone over central Bay of Bengal.
The cyclone which got its name from a small town in Yemen – Mocha – is expected to have maximum sustained wind speed of 150-160 kmph gusting to 175 kmph, as per the IMD.
