Cyclone Mocha Now Turns Into 'Very Severe Cyclonic Storm', Bangladesh Braces For Impact

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the severe cyclonic storm 'Mocha' has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm on Friday and head to the Bangladesh-Myanmar coast.

''The SCS Mocha intensified into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm, lay centered at 0530 hours IST of 12th May 2023 over Central adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal near lat 13.2N & long 88.1E, about 520 km west-northwest of Port Blair,'' the weather forecasting agency.

The weather agency said that Cyclone Mocha was gaining strength and intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm, packing winds of up to 135 kmph, and likely to move towards the Bangladesh-Myanmar coast.

On Wednesday, IMD-Kolkata's Deputy Director General Sanjib Banerjee said cyclone Mocha will not likely to have much impact in Indian coast. "The landfall of the cyclone will be between Bangladesh and Myanmar. Fishermen and people have been warned not to venture near the sea," he said.

The first cyclone of the year in the Bay of Bengal, named 'Mocha' (pronounced 'Mokha'), is expected to hit the Bangladesh-Myanmar border on Sunday. The weather agency issued a warning about the cyclone, and in response, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has put its units on high alert.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams has deployed 8 teams and 200 rescuers in West Bengal's Digha after warnings about cyclone 'Mocha' of intensifying into a severe storm.

Rainfall alert:

According to the IMD notification issued that Tripura and Mizoram are likely to experience rainfall in most places on May 13 and May 14. Some isolated areas in these states may receive heavy rainfall. Similarly, Nagaland, Manipur, and south Assam may witness rains on May 14 with heavy rainfall in certain areas.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall on May 12, 13, and 14.