Severe cyclone expected to hit West Bengal, Bangladesh coasts on Sunday night

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The Meteorological Department has issued a warning of a strong cyclone building in the Bay of Bengal, which is predicted to make landfall between Sagar Island in West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh around midnight on May 26.

The depression, which is currently located over the central Bay of Bengal, is expected to build into a cyclonic storm by May 25 morning and a severe cyclonic storm by May 25 evening, according to the Met Department, reported PTI.

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Per the PTI report, the severe cyclonic storm is expected to cross the shores of West Bengal and Bangladesh between Sagar Island and Khepupara on the night of May 26, bringing heavy to very heavy rain to coastal regions.

The Met Office has issued heavy rain warnings for May 26 and 27 in Kolkata, South and North 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur, and Howrah districts. Wind gusts of up to 90 to 100 kmph are forecast in South 24 Parganas and 80 to 90 kmph in Purba Medinipur on these days, with speeds reaching 60 to 70 kmph in Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, and Howrah.

Fishermen are urged not to enter the sea in the north Bay of Bengal until the morning of May 27.

Light to moderate rain and thunderstorms are forecast in Odisha's north and south regions from May 25. Heavy rainfall warnings have been issued for Balasore on May 26, as well as Bhadrak and Kendrapara on May 26 and 27, the PTI report added.

According to meteorological scientist Umashankar Dash, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, and Bhadrak districts are expected to receive heavy rain on May 27.