Amidst continuously  scorching heat, the IMD on Saturday said that the effect of Cyclone Mocha will not have a direct impact in the state, but issued warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in all districts of the state from May 14 morning.

On Saturday Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha has attended a high level meeting for management of extremely severe cyclonic storm “Mocha” and reviewed the preparedness in presence of Chief Secretary J K Sinha, special secretary of Revenue department AK Bhattacharjee, SPO of Disaster management Sarat Kumar Das and director of IMD, Agartala Nahush Kulkarni.

The Chief Minister has instructed   the officials concerned to be fully prepared for management of any eventuality arising out of the cyclone.

Later, in the evening addressing a press conference special secretary of Revenue department AK Bhattacharjee accompanied by  SPO of Disaster management Sarat Kumar Das and director of IMD, Agartala Nahush Kulkarni said that all preparations has been taken by the state government as per the advice issued by IMD.

Director of IMD, Agartala Nahush Kulkarni said ‘MOCHA’ is now extremely severe cyclonic storm over the East central Bay of Bengal moved nearly north eastward with a speed of 14 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centered at 0830 hours IST of today over the same region about 560 km north- northwest of Port Blair, 680 km south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh) and 600 km southwest of Sittwe (Myanmar).

It is very likely to move north-northeast wards and cross southeast Bangladesh and north Myanmar coasts between Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh) and Kyaukpyu (Myanmar), close to Sittwe (Myanmar) around noon of 14th May, 2023 as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 150-160 kmph gusting to 175 kmph.

Kulkarni added that in Tripura it is forecasted that Rainfall at most places with Heavy rainfall at isolated places is likely on 13 May and heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places on 14 May. Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph is very likely to prevail on 14 May. Orange warning (Alert, be prepared) issued to South Tripura, Gomati, Dhalai and North Tripura districts and Yellow warning (Watch) to the remaining five districts by IMD.

IMD has also issued warning of heavy rainfall across Tripura on May 14 to 17th next due to Cyclone Mocha.

IMD issued “Orange”  (alert) warnings for three districts for May 13 and 14 and “Yellow” (watch) warning for remaining five districts of the state on the same and has also issued “Yellow” warning for all districts of the state for May 15.

Rainfall at most places in Tripura, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and southern Assam and heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely on Saturday and heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places of these states on Sunday.

Kulkarni said that damage to loose and unsecured structures, some breaches in Kutcha road due to heavy rain with the possibility of landslide, uprooting of small trees and breaking of tree branches, damage to small trees and damage to standing crops are likely to occur in these Northeastern states.

The state governments of Tripura, Mizoram, Nagaland, Assam and Manipur have asked the district, disaster management and all concerned authorities to take all precautionary measures to prevent loss of life and damage to property.

Meanwhile, based on the warning issued by the IMD, the Revenue department of the Tripura government has also issued an advisory and  IMD, Agartala centre is observing the situation and may issue special bulletins for the purpose in accordance with the cloud movements.

As per prediction of IMD , the Revenue department in its advisory said that the department is assessing the situation regularly and alerted NDRF, SDRF, TSR, firefighters, trained volunteers and quick response teams (QRTs) in standby mode for immediate action.

The Revenue department has also asked the authorities to keep ready all equipment like boats, life jackets and other flood rescue items, monitoring of river flows, embankments and catchment areas and should take immediate preventive and preparedness measures.

While, the Agartala city after witnessing highest temperature in 62 years as the mercury touched 40 degrees Celsius which is at least 7.2 degrees higher than normal temperature at this time of the year, on Saturday maximum temperatures recorded at 34.6 degrees Celsius and the city remained hottest today with relative humidity at about 86 percent and minimum recorded temperature of 26.2 degrees Celsius with departure of plus 2.3 degrees Celsius.