Meteorologists are closely monitoring a low-pressure system forming over the Bay of Bengal, which is expected to intensify into a cyclone by Wednesday morning. According to the weather office, the system is currently located 705 km southeast of Odisha’s Paradip and 730 km south-southeast of Sagar Island in West Bengal.
The low-pressure system is gradually moving northwest and is likely to strengthen into a cyclone by Wednesday morning. By afternoon, it is expected to be positioned over the central Bay of Bengal, causing turbulent sea conditions. Based on the current trajectory, the cyclone is projected to make landfall between Odisha’s Puri and West Bengal’s Sagar Island late Wednesday night or early Thursday. Wind speeds during landfall could reach 100-110 km/h, with gusts up to 120 km/h.
Coastal Areas on Alert:
The sea in parts of the Bay of Bengal has already begun to swell, and conditions are expected to worsen by Thursday. The weather department has issued a warning for rough seas near the coasts of West Bengal and Odisha from Wednesday evening until Friday morning. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea, and a red alert has been issued for several districts, including the two 24 Parganas, East and West Midnapore, Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata, and Bankura in West Bengal.
Heavy rainfall is anticipated on Wednesday in the districts of 24 Parganas and Midnapore, with rainfall intensifying on Thursday. The weather department has also issued warnings for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Howrah, Kolkata, and North 24 Parganas on Thursday and Friday. A red alert has been sounded for West Midnapore, Jhargram, East Midnapore, and South 24 Parganas due to the risk of very heavy rainfall. Scattered heavy rain is expected across the rest of South Bengal, while light to moderate showers are likely in parts of North Bengal, including Malda and the two Dinajpurs.
Potential Crop Damage:
Both West Bengal and Odisha are at risk of significant crop damage due to the cyclone. The West Bengal government has already issued advisories to farmers to harvest paddy crops that are 80% mature. Farmers are also advised to ensure proper drainage in papaya, banana, vegetable, and betel leaf farms. Until the weather stabilizes, the use of chemicals or pesticides has been discouraged.
Odisha’s Preparedness:
In Odisha, the cyclone is expected to affect 14 districts, including Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, and Khurda. As a precaution, the state government has ordered schools to remain closed from Wednesday to Friday in these districts. Authorities have also started evacuating tourists from the coastal town of Puri, urging them to leave by Wednesday. The Odisha government has advised against visiting Puri for the rest of the week.
Disaster Response:
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed to both states. Fourteen teams have been prepared for West Bengal, while eleven teams are ready to be deployed in Odisha to handle any emergencies.