The deep melancholy over the Bay of Bengal intensified right into a cyclonic storm ‘Midhili’ on Friday morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated. The cyclonic storm can be shifting previous the Sunderbans earlier than making landfall on the Bangladesh coast with a most wind pace of 80 kmph throughout Friday night time or early hours of Saturday, it stated.

“Deep Depression over NW Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm ‘Midhili’ (pronounced as ‘Midhili’). It lay centered at 0530 hrs IST of 17th Nov over Northwest BoB about 190 km east of Paradip (Odisha), 200 km south-southeast of Digha (West Bengal), and 220 km southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh),” the IMD wrote in its bulletin.

It added, “The cyclonic storm is likely to continue to move north-northeastwards and cross Bangladesh coast close to Khepupara with wind speed of 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph during November 17 night or early hours of November 18.”

According to the climate division, West Bengal’s coastal districts together with North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, East Medinpur, and Kolkata are prone to obtain heavy rainfall for the subsequent 24 hours because of the cyclonic storm.

It added that whereas the cyclone is not going to have a serious impression on Odisha, some districts of the states akin to Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur are prone to obtain heavy rainfall. In view of this, Odisha’s particular aid commissioner has put all district collectors on alert, reported information company PTI.

Notably, the title ‘Midhili’ was given by the Maldives. Countries affected by the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal cyclones rotationally give names of cyclones in a sequence. this technique was adopted by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and member international locations of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission (ESCAP).

(With inputs from companies)