New Delhi: Under the influence of Cyclone Sitrang, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for four North Eastern states of India.
As per IMD, a red alert indicating heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall has been issued for Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura.
“Under Sitrang influence, widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms/lightning/heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rain at isolated places is very likely to occur over Tripura on 24th & 25th October 2022,” IMD said in a press release.
Disaster Management Authorities in Meghalaya have been kept on high alert as Cyclone Sitrang is likely to bring heavy rain to many parts of the state. In at least four districts bordering Bangladesh, the administration directed the authorities to keep all educational institutes shut on Tuesday in view of the cyclone. The districts are East and West Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, and South West Khasi Hills. Other districts were directed to keep all field officers alert at all times, monitor the situation and report in case of emergency, the officials said.
The IMD forecast is “generally cloudy sky with continuous rain” in many parts of Meghalaya on Tuesday. The National Highway Authority of India has been directed to keep its manpower and machines ready for any emergency requirement in any part of the state, a senior official of the state disaster management authority said. The entire northeastern state experienced light to moderate rainfall throughout Monday causing minor disruption of power supplies.
Earlier today, the West Bengal government was witnessed taking all the precautionary measures, including evacuation of people, and supply of relief material to shelters, to deal with possible devastation under the impact of Cyclone ‘Sitrang’.
Civil defence teams are deployed at Bakkhali Sea Beach in South 24 Parganas. Tourists are not allowed to visit the beach and the shops have also been closed.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday appealed to the people to “stay alert” as there is a high chance of rain on Tuesday due to cyclone Sitrang. “There is a high chance of rain on October 25. There is an appeal to the people to avoid going out unnecessarily or to the sea areas including the Sundarbans. The state govt has made arrangements,” said CM Mamata Banerjee.
Sitrang made landfall between Tinkona Island and Sandwip near Barisal in Bangladesh between 9.30 pm and 11.30 pm on Monday with a sustained wind speed of 80 to 90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph, the regional MeT centre here said.
It is very likely to weaken into a depression and then into a low pressure by Tuesday evening, it said.
(With ANI Inputs)