West Bengal government gears up for cyclone

An emergency control room has been opened at state secretariat Nabanna and a team of 10 senior bureaucrats are part of the emergency team to oversee the preparedness ahead of Cyclone Sitrang, which is likely to make landfall in Bangladesh's Barishal after crossing the Bangladesh coast between Tinkona Island and Sandwip early morning on October 25. The emergency control room at Nabanna will remain open round the clock for the next few days.

The West Bengal government has geared up for evacuation of the coastal districts of East Midnapore, West Midnapore, South & North 24 Parganas districts and kept flood centres ready. Ferry services at several places, including the Sunderbans, have been stopped. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea along the coasts of Odisha, West Bengal and Bangladesh from October 23 to October 25, according to an IMD advisory.

The NDRF and SDRF have already reached the coastal districts of the state. "Evacuation will be done depending on the situation," administration sources said.


"The cyclonic system will cross Bangladesh coast between Tinkona Island and Sandwip near Barishal on early October 25 morning. Both Bangladesh and the Indian part of Sunderbans, will be the areas, which will have the major impact. Power and communication lines will be disrupted. Kuchha embankments are likely to be damaged and sea water inundation in low-lying areas is expected. We are continuously monitoring the situation," Sanjib Bandopadhyay, IMD director, said.

According to the forecast, Sundarbans, on both sides of the international border, is likely to receive the maximum impact.

Heavy rain and wind gusts up to 100 kmph are likely to hit the coastal districts of West Bengal as a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensifies into a cyclone by Sunday evening, dampening the Kali Puja and Diwali festivities in various parts of the state. Tourist activities in Digha, Mandarmani and other tourist spots bordering the sea, have been prohibited. Major damage is likely in the coastal areas of South and North 24 Parganas, Bandopadhyay said.