Cyclone ‘Mocha’ intensifies into “very severe” storm

Cyclone Mocha has intensified into a “very severe” cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal’s southeast and adjoining areas, officials said on Friday.

As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which closely monitors the cyclonic storm said, “The SCS “Mocha” intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm, lay centred at 05:30 hours IST of 12th May 2023 over central adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal near latitude 13.2N and long 88.1E, about 520 km west-northwest of Port Blair.”

IMD had previously predicted that cyclone ‘Mocha’ would become a severe cyclone by Thursday midnight. However, following warnings that cyclone ‘Mocha’ would intensify into a severe storm, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 8 teams and 200 rescuers in West Bengal’s Digha.

“We’ve deployed 8 teams. 200 rescuers of NDRF deployed on the ground and 100 rescuers on standby,” said Singh, while speaking to ANI.

While providing an update, Sanjeev Dwivedi, IMD senior scientist in Bhubaneswar, predicted that the cyclonic storm will lightly recur and will intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal on May 12th evening.

“The Cyclonic storm is likely to recurve and on the 12th of May evening, it will intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal. On 13th May it will take peak intensity. The system is under continuous surveillance,” said Sanjeev Dwivedi.

IMD stated earlier this morning that the deep depression over the Southeast.

In this regard, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has issued an official statement stating that its units have been placed on high alert in response to the IMD’s cyclonic storm Mocha warning. According to the statement, the ICG is prepared to respond to the cyclonic storm as indicated by the IMD, and the update has been shared with the fisheries and civil administration.