After the weather office issued a warning about a cyclonic storm that could strike West Bengal’s coastal areas on May 26, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ordered senior government officials to make all possible preparations.
Officials said Ms Banerjee advised the officers to prepare an appropriate stock of medications, drinking water, dry food, and tarpaulins during a virtual meeting.
She also instructed the officers to ensure that sufficient resources, including the state emergency response team and police, are mobilised, according to the officers.
Both cyclone shelters and cyclone centres have been asked to prepare. In light of the alerts, district magistrates have been instructed to take all necessary precautions,” an official said.
Fishermen have been warned not to go into the water, according to the district administrations.
On May 22, a low-pressure system is very likely to develop over the North Andaman Sea and the adjacent east central Bay of Bengal, intensifying into a cyclonic storm, according to the Met Department.
The system is expected to pass northwestwards and hit the coasts of West Bengal and Odisha on May 26 evening, according to Regional Met Director GK Das.
After forming on May 22, the low-pressure system is very likely to strengthen into a cyclonic storm over the next 72 hours.
He predicts that light to moderate rainfall will begin in West Bengal’s coastal districts on May 25.
Rainfall is expected to rise dramatically across all of South Bengal’s districts and then accelerate, according to Das.
The Met Department recommended fishermen not to venture into the Bay of Bengal from May 24 because sea conditions are likely to be rough to very rough.
