Sitrang likely to make landfall by Tuesday

Staff Reporter :
Though the West Bengal government of India has started extensive preparations assuming that a depression created in the Andaman Sea and adjacent areas will eventually turn into a cyclone, but no specific statement has yet come from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) about the trajectory of the super cyclone ‘Sitrang’.
The meteorologists have predicted that the super cyclone Sitrang likely to make landfall near West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts by Tuesday on October 25.
However, the BMD have asked the Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra seaports to carefully monitor the further instructions.
Meteorologist of BMD Hafizur Rahman said that the low pressure was located in the Andaman Sea and the adjacent
Southwest Bay of Bengal, whose extension part extends to the northern Bay of Bengal. “It can be more concentrated and the weather conditions of Bangladesh may deteriorate in the next three days,” he added.
Earlier, a Canadian Professor wrote that there was a strong possibility that the cyclone Sitrang might strike the entire coastal area of Bangladesh, especially all the coastal districts of Khulna and Barishal divisions and Noakhali district of Chattogram division.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the developing cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal-Cyclone Sitrang-will bypass Odisha and make landfall near West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts on October 25.
The super cyclone named ‘Sitrang’ has been given by Thai scientists, meaning ‘leaf’.
This system is likely to move west-northwestwards. “It will concentrate into a depression over east-central & adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal around October 22,” said the IMD bulletin.
The national weather forecasting agency has confirmed that a low-pressure area formed over the north Andaman Sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on the morning of October 20.
In the following 24 hours, the depression will progress into a deep depression. “Subsequently, it is very likely to recurve northwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm over west-central & adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal by October 24,” the IMD bulletin added.
Thereafter, it is likely to gradually move north- and northeast-wards and reach close to West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts on 25th October, skirting the Odisha coast, the media statement read.
However, a low-pressure system formed in the Bay of Bengal on Thursday.
 “It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and concentrate into a depression (wind speed 31 – 50 km/hr) over east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal around October 22. It will strengthen into a deep depression (wind speed 51 – 61km/hr) on October 23,” the bulletin stated.
Since Wednesday, the IMD has been urging fishermen not to venture into the deep sea from October 22 onwards. Those already at sea have been told to return to the coast by October 22.
Once strengthened into a cyclone, Sitrang will be the second storm to form in 2022, and only the first to develop in October since 2018, when Titli, a powerful cyclone, battered the country’s eastern parts in India.
According to IMD data, of all the cyclones that developed in the Bay of Bengal in the month of October since 1981, only 15 crossed Odisha.
Earlier on October 12, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Enamur Rahman said that there is no possibility of super cyclone ‘Sitrang’ – to be formed over the Bay of Bengal – hitting Bangladesh coast.
“The Global Forecast Center (GFC) said, a depression formed in the Bay on October 17 and will intensify into a cyclonic storm. It may hit parts of West Bengal and the Sundarbans through Andhra Pradesh,” the State Minister had added.