Cyclone ‘Mocha’ Set To Intensify As Very Severe Cyclonic Storm: IMD

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the severe cyclonic storm 'Mocha' is set to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm today. It would head to the Bangladesh-Myanmar coast, the weather department said.

"The SCS "Mocha" lay centred at 0230 hours IST of 12th May 2023 over Southeast adjoining Central Bay of Bengal about 520 km west-northwest of Port Blair", the IMD said in an early morning tweet.

The name 'Mocha' was suggested by Yemen. It was named after the Red Sea port city which is known to have introduced coffee to the world.

"Severe cyclonic storm "Mocha" lay centered at 2330 hrs IST of 11th May 2023 over southeast adjoining Central BoB near lat 12.7N, long 88.1E, about 510 km west-northwest of Port Blair, 1050 km south-southwest of Cox's Bazar (Bangladesh) and 970 km south-southwest of Sittwe (Myanmar)," the IMD said on Thursday.

Due to this, the states of Mizoram and Tripura are likely to get heavy rains on Saturday. Nagaland, Manipur and South Assam are likely to get rainfall on Sunday.

Eight teams of the National Disaster Relief Force and 200 rescuers have been put on the ground, while another 100 are on standby.

Fishermen, ships, boats and trawlers have been advised not to venture into the central and northeast Bay of Bengal and north Andaman Sea until Sunday. Those who are sailing in central Bay of Bengal and north Andaman Sea have been advised to return to the coast.