SIDR moves towards NE, creates havoc

Guwahati, Nov 16 (UNI) The cyclonic system SIDR, which has moved towards Tripura and Barak valley in Assam, turned into a depression over South Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura.

The cyclonic storm, which had so far claimed more than 200 lives in Bangladesh, lay centred over Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam since this morning thus sending warning signals across North East region, the Met office said. Torrential rains across the region since last night had already snapped the road link between Shillong and Silchar in Barak valley, which is in close proximity to the centre of depression caused by the storm.

SIDR, over north Bay of Bengal, that crossed Bangladesh coast yesterday is moving in the north-northeasterly direction. It had weakened into a depression and laid centred over Bangladesh, Tripura, Meghalaya and South Assam, about 50 km north of Agartala. The cyclone had spared West Bengal even as an alert had been sounded in West Bengal as well as Orissa since yesterday.

Indian Meteorological Department sources have informed that though the system would weaken further, it will affect the NE in the next 48 hours under the influence of which heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.

Arunachal Pradesh would also witness fairly widespread rain, the sources added.

Strong gusty winds with speed reaching 50-60 kmph is also likely over south and west Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram during the same period.

Temperatures have also plummeted significantly across the region, with minimum temperatures recorded at 10 degrees Celsius in several places of the region.

The Met department sources, however, informed that the temperatures will rise a bit after the next 48 hours when the cyclonic system moves further north-northeastward.

The sources also said no floods were anticipated due to the heavy rainfall.

UNI