Cyclone Tej to weaken into cyclonic storm: IMD

"Very severe" Cyclonic storm 'Tej' crossed the Yemen coast, and is likely to weaken into a cyclonic storm during the next 6 hours, India Meteorological Department said on Tuesday. The weather agency further said that the storm is very likely to move further north-westward. "Very Severe Cyclonic Storm "Tej" (pronounced as Tej) Crossed Yemen's coast and weakened into a severe cyclonic storm over coastal Yemen," IMD said in a post 'X'. "It is very likely to move further north-westward and weaken into a cyclonic storm during the next 6 hours," it said. Meanwhile, IMD said on Tuesday that the Cyclonic Storm 'Hamoon' has now intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the Northwest Bay of Bengal.

As per the information from IMD, the Cyclonic Storm 'Hamoon' over Northwest and adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal moved northeastwards with a speed of 18 km per hour during the past 6 hours. The cyclonic storm after moving for six hours, intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and lay centred, at 2:30 am on October 24, over the northwest Bay of Bengal, near latitude 19.3°N and longitude 88.4°E, about 210 km east-southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 270 km south-southeast of Digha (West Bengal) and 350 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh).

The cyclonic storm is very likely to move nearly north-northeast wards and cross the Bangladesh coast between Khepupara and Chittagong around noon on October 25 as a Deep Depression.  Earlier, on Monday, the Municipal Administration in Odisha had put all Urban Local Bodies (ULB) on alert in view of the formation of cyclonic storm 'Hamoon' in the Bay of Bengal.

Director Municipal Administration Sangramjit Nayak, in an official statement, issued a directive to all ULB Chiefs, sensitising them about the impending danger due to the formation of cyclonic storm 'Hamoon' in the Bay of Bengal, which will culminate in huge rainfall, wind, and inclement weather. The Odisha government has already instructed all the officials of different departments to be prepared for any upcoming possibility and asked them to evacuate people from sea shores and low-lying areas.