Bhubaneswar: India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director-General Mritunjay Mohapatra on Wednesday said that a cyclonic circulation is likely to form over the Southeast Bay of Bengal around May 6 and, under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the same region around May 7.
It is likely to concentrate into a depression over the Southeast Bay of Bengal on May 8. Subsequently, it is possible that the low-pressure area may intensify while moving northwards towards the central Bay of Bengal.
“We are closely monitoring the developments in the Bay of Bengal, but it is still not possible whether the low-pressure area will give rise to a cyclonic storm. We will be able to talk about the possibility of a cyclone only after May 7 and give its possible direction.” “Predicting the path of cyclones during the summer season is very difficult and we need to wait till the low pressure concentrates into a depression,” he added.
Till then, he urged people not to panic about a possible cyclone, but to be prepared for every circumstance. “The IMD will be providing daily updates on the development,” Mohapatra said.
At the same time, Mohapatra advised the fishing community not to venture out into the sea during the period as the sea is expected to be violent.
In case the low pressure intensifies into a cyclonic storm, the system will be called Cyclone Mocha.
It is worth mentioning here that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting in view of the possible formation of Cyclone Mocha over the Bay of Bengal and directed the officials to be prepared for every situation.
