Guwahati: A red signal for heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rains has been issued for Assam on Monday due to Cyclone Sitrang.
The early morning weather in Guwahati on Tuesday was cloudy and cold breeze was blowing.
Meanwhile, IMD also issued red alert for three other Northeastern states- Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura.
Widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rain at isolated places is very likely to occur over Tripura on Monday and Tuesday, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday.
“Under Sitrang influence, widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms/lightning/heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rain at isolated places is very likely to occur over Tripura on 24th & 25th October 2022,” IMD said in a press release.
The West Bengal administration was seen earlier today taking all necessary precautions, including the evacuation of residents and the provision of relief supplies to shelters, to prepare for potential destruction brought on by Cyclone “Sitrang.”
Civil defence teams have been stationed at Bakkhali Sea Beach in South 24 Parganas. The beach is off limits to visitors, and the stores are closed as well.
“There is a high chance of rain on October 25. There is an appeal to the people to avoid going out unnecessarily or to the sea areas including the Sundarbans. The state govt has made arrangements,” said CM Mamata Banerjee.
The cyclonic storm “Sitrang” pronounced as “Si-Trang” over the northwest and adjoining the central Bay of Bengal crossed the Bangladesh coast between Tinkona and Sandwip close to Barisal during 9:30 pm to 11:30 pm on Monday with a maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph, IMD said.
“It lay centered at 11:30 pm on Sunday over coastal Bangladesh near latitude 23.70N and longitude 90.80E, about 40 km east of Dhaka, 50 km west-southwest of Agartala, and 120 km north-northeast of Barisal (Bangladesh),” IMD officials said.
“The cyclone is very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards and weaken into a depression during next 6 hours and further into a well-marked low-pressure area during subsequent 6 hours,” it further said.