AMPHAN to be second super cyclone over Bay of Bengal : IMD DG

IMD Director General, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra informed that AMPHAN will be the second super cyclone over the Bay of Bengal after Odisha Super Cyclone. However, AMPHAN would be less in intensity as compared to the Odisha Super Cyclone, he said.

New Delhi:As cyclone AMPHAN has now intensified into a super cyclonic storm and is likely to move across the coast of West Bengal and Odisha, IMD Director General, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra informed that it'll be the second super cyclone over the Bay of Bengal after Odisha Super Cyclone.

Odisha Super Cyclone, which came in the Bay of Bengal 21 years ago, in 1999, had ravaged large parts of Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal. It had taken Odisha over a couple of months to get over from the damage caused by that Super Cyclone. However, AMPHAN would be less in intensity as compared to the Odisha Super Cyclone.

"In the case of Odisha Super Cyclone, it had a wind speed of 260-280 kmph and was stationary for about 30 hours in Paradeep, Bhuvaneshvar and Cuttack. Therefore, it had catastrophic damage," IMD DG said.

As per the update given by Indian Meteorological Department, Cyclone AMPHAN is likely to move across the northeast Bay of Bengal, and cross the West Bengal as well as Bangladesh coasts between Digha and Hatia Island on May 20, as a 'very severe cyclonic storm' with a maximum sustained wind speed of 155 to 165 kmph busting to 185 mph.

Mohapatra further explained, "In this case, the cyclone is not stationary when it is going to hit the coast. It will move further. Also, it is moving in the summer season while Odisha super cyclone moved in the post-monsoon season when a lot of moisture was there in the soil. Therefore the intensity of this cyclone is quite less as compared to Odisha super cyclone. Still, it has extremely severe damaging capacity."

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into north Bay of Bengal and off from the West Bengal-Odisha coasts from May 18 to 21 and those who are already in the sea, have been asked to return to the shore.

Making difference in AMPHAN from other cyclones, Mohapatra said, "FANI hit Odisha, near Puri, directly. At that time the maximum wind was 170-180 kmph. But in this case, the cyclone is not directly hitting Odisha. It is going parallel to Odisha's coast and hitting West Bengal's coast."

He also said that there is no chance of the super cyclone making landfall in Odisha, but it will impact parts of the coastal Odisha. The eye of Cyclone Storm is likely to pass through Sunderban delta. Intensity will reduce to 'extremely severe cyclonic storm' from 'Super cyclonic storm' when it makes landfall.

"This cyclone is expected to follow the track of cyclone Bulbul, which came in November 2019. The only difference is that AMPHAN is stronger cyclone and its wind speed is higher than Cyclone Bulbul," informed the IMD DG.

Odisha has also begun its evacuation process from the coastal villages in the northern districts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also chaired a high-level meeting, on Monday, to review the response measures against cyclone AMPHAN.