Cyclone Komen Heavy Rains in West Bengal and Odisha

Cyclone Komen Heavy Rains in West Bengal and Odisha  – A slow-moving monsoon depression that has already unleashed lethal amounts of rain in South Asia formed into a tropical cyclone over the northern Bay of Bengal Wednesday. The cyclonic storm, now named Komen, threatens to further drench regions that are already reeling from flooding and mudslides, which have claimed at least 27 lives in two countries.

For about a week, heavy rainfall has been pounding southern parts of Bangladesh and parts of neighboring Myanmar thanks to a weak area of low pressure – designated a “depression” by meteorologists in that region – that formed over Bangladesh in association with the seasonal monsoon.

Cyclonic storm ‘Komen’ will hit the Bangladesh coast today afternoon, bringing with it heavy rainfall in Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha, the Metrological department said.

Komen currently lies 300 kms east-southeast of Kolkata. After making landfall in Bangladesh, it will move west-north-westwards and weaken gradually.

“Rainfall would occur at most places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy at isolated places over the Gangetic West Bengal on July 30-31 and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places on August 1,” IMD’s Cyclone Warning Division said.

“Isolated places in Odisha will also witness heavy to very heavy rainfall at most places today and heavy to very heavy rains at a few places with isolated extremely heavy rains on July 31 and August 1,” the division further said.

There would be rains at most places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over the north-eastern states of Mizoram, Tripura and south Assam on July 30 and 31. Jharkhand will also witness heavy to very heavy rains on July 31 and August 1.

“Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph would prevail along and off West Bengal and north Odisha coasts during next 48 hours.

“Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph would prevail over Mizoram and Tripura commencing from this evening for next 24 hours and over Gangetic West Bengal from tomorrow morning. Sea condition would be high over north Bay of Bengal during the same period,” the Cyclone Warning Division added.