Heavy rainfall likely in Bengal as cyclone alert issued in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha

Mangalore Today News Network

Kolkata, Sep 25, 2021: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday said heavy rainfall is likely to be witnessed in many parts of West Bengal as a cyclone alert has been issued for Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

 

The weather department said a depression over the northeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal has intensified into a deep depression, may further concentrate into a cyclonic storm ’Cyclone Gulab’ and move towards south Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh.

Under its influence, heavy rainfall is predicted in many parts of West Bengal including Kolkata, East Midnapore, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas, the IMD said.

In view of the IMD alert, the Kolkata Police has opened a control room named ’Unified Command Center’. All police stations and divisions in the area have been asked to remain on high alert as heavy rainfall is predicted in Kolkata and other areas in West Bengal.

All police stations have been asked to keep gumboots and other equipment ready to deal with any untoward incidents due to the storm.

Meanwhile, preparations are also underway in the coastal areas of West Bengal in view of the cyclone alert in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

The IMD said light to moderate showers are predicted for most places with heavy rainfall at isolated places expected over Odisha and coastal Andhra Pradesh on Saturday.

The deep depression lay centred 510 km east-southeast of Gopalpur and 590 km east of Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh early on Saturday.

"It is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours. It may move nearly westwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts, between Vishakhapatnam and Gopalpur around Kalingapatnam by the evening of September 26," the IMD stated.

Courtesy:India Today