Super cyclone ‘Sitrang’ developing in Bay of Bengal

Staff Reporter :
A super cyclone named ‘Sitrang’ is likely to be formed in the Bay of Bengal between October 18 and 25. The possible cyclone could make landfall over the Sundarbans coast of Bangladesh, West Bengal in India or over Andhra Pradesh coast, according to the US Met Office Global Forecast System (GFS).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already instructed the ministry concerned to be prepared to face the possible cyclone which could hit Bangladesh territory.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Enamur Rahman said on Wednesday said that there is no possibility of super cyclone ‘Sitrang’ – to be formed over the Bay of Bengal – hitting Bangladesh coast.
“We are alert as per the Prime Minister’s instruction as the Global Forecast System (GFS) has shared a message that super cyclone ‘Sitrang’ may hit the coastal areas this month. No depression has been formed in the Bay yet,” he told journalists while addressing a press conference on the occasion of International Disaster Mitigation Day at the Secretariat.
According to the State Minister, a depression will be formed in the Bay on October 17 and will intensify into a cyclonic storm and it may hit parts of West Bengal and the Sundarbans through Andhra Pradesh.
It can be similar to Cyclone Amphan, he said adding “Our meteorologists are monitoring and reported that no depression has formed in the Bay yet.”
“If the cyclone hits this region, it will be called ‘Sitrang’, named by Thailand,” Dr Enamur Rahman added.
Japan and Indian Meteorological departments will work jointly with Bangladesh. “We will take action on our preparations when we come to a decision.”
He also said the government is prepared to deal with the cyclone although there is no specific information. The State Minister said all the field level administration, district administration and volunteers have
been instructed to be ready to tackle the cyclone.
“Usually we start doing preparatory work after the depression forms,” Dr Enamur Rahman said.
The cyclone shelters need to be prepared. “We will provide dry foods, drinking water and cash money there,” he added.
“Due to the cyclone, the sea surface air pressure may drop to 941 millibars. At the same time, the wind speed can reach a maximum of 210 to 250 kmph. If it hits the coast at this speed, the amount of damage will be exactly the same as that caused by Cyclone Sidr which hit the coastal districts of Khulna Division in 2007,” Meteorologist Mustafa Kamal Palash, a Ph.D. researcher on meteorology and climate at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada said earlier.