Depression over Bay of Bengal turns into cyclonic storm, ports hoist signal no. 2

The Meteorological Department has asked the maritime ports to hoist distant warning signal no. 2 as a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm.

The Met Office said the cyclone, named 'Titli', over west-central Bay and adjoining east-central Bay moved slightly westwards over the same area and was centred about 985 km southwest of Chattogram Port at 6pm .

It is likely to intensify furthermore and move in a northwesterly direction.

Sea will remain very rough near the cyclone centre.

All fishing boats and trawlers over north Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.

The national weather office of India issued a rain red alert for two days after the storm started heading towards the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday, the NDTV reported.

The Odisha government has alerted all district authorities to prepare for emergency relief work.

The India Meteorological Department has also warned of heavy rain in West Bengal and north Andhra Pradesh.

The cyclone may make a landfall on Thursday morning, believed Indian meteorologists.

There had been two more depressions over the bay in September. One of them had turned into a cyclone and was named Deyi which got weakened after crossing the Odisha coast and did not impact Bangladesh.

Pakistan proposed the name ‘of the current cyclone, ‘Titli’, meaning butterfly to the panel of met offices in eight Asia-Pacific countries.

There has been another cyclone called ‘Luban’ already formed in the Arabian Sea and moving towards Oman.