Cyclone Gaja forms over Bay of Bengal, unlikely to hit Bangladesh coasts

A cyclone named ‘Gaja’ has formed over the Bay of Bengal and is likely to intensify into a severe storm, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department says.

“It is likely to intensify further and move in a west-northwesterly direction,” the Met Office said in a forecast on Sunday evening. 

The India Meteorological Department forecast that the storm was likely to head towards north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coasts and may make a landfall on Thursday, according to the country’s media.

Bangladesh meteorologists, however, see a very little or no chance of the storm hitting the country’s coasts.

Meteorologist Bazlur Rashid said the storm was  centred at  east-central Bay and adjoining west-central Bay and southeast Bay at 6pm.

The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted distant warning signal no. two.

All fishing boats and trawlers over north Bay have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution till further notice as the sea will remain very rough near the cyclone centre, the Met Office said.

Light rain is likely to occur over Chattogram region and weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country.

Night temperature may rise slightly and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.

Thailand proposed the name ‘Gaja’, which means elephant in Sanskrit, for the storm.