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Cyclone may hit Bengal in 48 hours, 6 districts on alert
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Posted: Friday , Apr 17, 2009 at 0219 hrs IST Most Read Articles

Six districts in West Bengal were put on alert on Thursday in view of cyclone Bijli, which lay centred 680 kms to the south and south-west of Kolkata.

“The cyclone is likely to move in a north-westerly direction,” a regional meteorological department official said. The cyclone is likely to hit West Bengal in the next 48 hours.

State Relief Minister Mortaza Hossain said six cyclone-prone districts — Midnapore West, Midnapore East, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, and parts of Hooghy and Howrah — have been alerted to tackle any eventuality.

“The cyclone may hit the Orissa coast. Later, it may affect either West Bengal or Bangladesh. We have alerted the district magistrates of these districts,” Hossain said. An emergency control room has been set up in the state relief department. he added.

The Met department has said that strong gale at 60-70 km/per hour to 80 km/per hour is likely to prevail along and off the Orissa coast during the next 48 hours, accompanied by rain or thunder showers.

“Heavy rainfall and isolated thunder squall is likely in the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal. The sea will be very rough and fishermen are advised not to venture into sea,” said an official of the Alipore Met department.

Accordingly, the cyclone centre is transmitting local cautionary signal at Gopalpur, Puri, Paradip and Chandbali. “We have received a warning that the storm is moving towards Paradip and Visakhapatnam and from Paradip it is likely to move towards Sagar Islands in West Bengal. It is likely to be diverted to Bangladesh. We have informed all the port users and ship owners to take adequate measures,” said an official of the Kolkata Port Trust.