The South West Khasi Hills District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has advised all departments and communities in the district to be ready to face any eventuality during the rain, in view of the forecast on the cyclonic storm brewing in the Bay of Bengal.
All line departments have been directed to promptly report any cyclone-related incidents and file a First Information Report (FIR) along with photographs to the Deputy Commissioner & Chairman DDMA.
Additionally the public are advised to stay indoors unless it is very important. People are also advised to avoid open fields, tall trees, and metal objects during thunderstorms, to seek shelter indoors or in a sturdy building and to also avoid using electronic devices or plumbing fixtures during lightning storms. They should also secure loose objects and park their vehicles away from trees, power lines, and other structures that may collapse in high winds.
If indoors the public are also advised to stay away from windows during gusty wind conditions and to avoid driving through flooded roads or low-lying areas.
The IMD has issued a pre-cyclone watch for West Bengal as the storm is likely to reach close to the Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coast on the evening of May 26.
The low pressure area first formed over southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal on May 22, and moved north-eastwards. It became more well-marked today morning. The weather forecast suggests it will move north-eastwards towards the West Bengal coast and intensify into a depression over central parts of the Bay of Bengal by May 24.
“Thereafter, it is very likely to continue to move north-eastwards, intensifying further into a cyclonic storm over east-central Bay of Bengal by May 25 morning. Subsequently, it would move nearly northwards and reach near Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts by May 26 evening as a severe cyclonic storm,” the IMD said in its forecast.
