Warning Issued for New Cyclone, Coastal Areas on Alert

The low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal has now intensified into a depression. Within 44 kilometers of its center, wind speed has increased to about 50 kilometers per hour. The system is gradually strengthening and may turn into a deep depression by October 26 and a full-fledged cyclone by October 27. Once it becomes a cyclone, it will be named ‘Maantha’, a name suggested by Thailand, meaning ‘fragrant flower’ or ‘beautiful flower’.

On Saturday (October 25), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued this forecast. According to IMD, the maximum wind speed of Cyclone Maantha could reach up to 120 kilometers per hour, and coastal areas may experience tidal surges of up to three feet.

The IMD predicts that the cyclone could initially hit the coastal regions of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. However, if it changes direction, it may also affect West Bengal and the southern parts of Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, on Friday (October 24), the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) issued a special advisory, instructing all fishing boats and trawlers in the north Bay of Bengal to avoid venturing into deep sea for now.

The BMD stated that even if the cyclone makes landfall along India’s Andhra Pradesh coast, its effects could be felt in the coastal districts of Bangladesh, including Patuakhali, Bhola, Barguna, Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, and Khulna. Due to the likelihood of heavy rainfall, high tides, and strong winds, residents in coastal regions have been advised to take precautionary measures in advance.

Khabarwala/TSN