Cyclone Mocha: Rainfall warning for Andamans, northeastern states

The India Meteorological Department on Saturday issued heavy rainfall warning for Andaman and Nicobar Islands and several northeastern states, including Tripura, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, and Assam as extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Mocha' (pronounced as 'Mokha') moved towards Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

As per the weather department forecast, the cyclonic storm "is very likely to move north-northeastwards and cross southeast Bangladesh and north Myanmar coasts between Cox's Bazar (Bangladesh) and Kyaukpyu (Myanmar), close to Sittew (Myanmar) around noon of May 14."

. Light to moderate rainfall likely at most places in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Saturday.

. Tripura, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, and south Assam could witness heavy rainfall at isolated placed on Sunday.

.Sea conditions are likely to be very rough over north Andaman Sea and Northwest Bay of Bengal till Monday morning.

.Fishermen, ships, boats, and trawlers have been advised not to venture into southeast Bay of Bengal till Saturday, and eastcentral and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal and north Andaman Sea till Monday. Those over central and northeast Bay of Bengal and north Andaman Sea are advised to return to coast.

.Minor damage to loose and unsecured structures are expected in Mizoram, Tripura, and Sourth Manipur.



Damage to standing crops are also expected. The IMD also warned of possibility of landslide due to heavy rain in vulnerable areas.

According to the weather department, the extremely severe cyclonic storm “Mocha” over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved nearly northeastwards and lay centered at 2:30 pm on Saturday over the same region near latitude 16.4°N and longitude 90.3°E, about 590 km north-northwest of Port Blair, 580 km south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh), and 490 km south-southwest of Sittwe (Myanmar).

Cyclone Mocha is predicted to make landfall on Sunday near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

As meteorologists warned that the cyclonic storm Mocha’s path looks set to affect Bangladesh's southeastern border district of Cox's Bazar, authorities in Bangladesh were quick to jump into action. The Bangladesh government launched a massive evacuation campaign to relocate close to half a million people along the southeastern coastlines. Over a million Rohingya refugees live in Cox’s Bazar.

Cyclone Mocha, one of the most powerful cyclones seen in Bangladesh in nearly two decades, is predicted to barrel towards the Bangladesh-Myanmar border on Sunday.

"Cyclone 'Mocha' is coming. We have kept the cyclone centres and taken all types of preparations to tackle it," Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said.