Dhaka: Cyclonic storm ‘Laila’ is likely to intensify further over the Bay of Bengal and move in a northwesterly direction to hit the coastal range of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in southern India, according to Met forecast.
In its latest warning on Wednesday morning the Dhaka Meteorological Office asked the seaport authorities of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla to hoist maritime ‘distant warning signal number two’ in view of inclement weather conditions.
Under the influence of the raging tropical storm, feminized by codenaming Laila, there have been heavy rainfalls already occurring in southern parts of India.
Shafiqul Islam, a metrological expert at Bangladesh Department of Metrology, told banglanews24.com.bd on Wednesday morning “at present Laila appears to be moving towards the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, and continue to do so nearly next 48 hours.
“If it catches the westerly, then it might strike the coast of Bangladesh. But, otherwise, it will approach the Indian coast.”
The Met expert added: “However, its current course remains safe for Bangladesh, but it might change its course anytime.”
He thinks following a spell of heat waves across the country, the cyclone codenamed Laila is possibly bringing the monsoon with it—which signals rains ahead.
In a special bulletin issued Wednesday at 06:00am the Met Office said the storm moved slightly towards the west-northwest over the same area around midday Tuesday and was centered about 1380 km south-west of Chittagong port, 1325 km south-west of Cox's Bazaar port and 1240 km south-southwest of Mongla port.
The maximum sustained wind speed within 54 kms of the depression centre is about 62 kph, but rapidly rising to 88k kph in gusts. “Sea may become rougher.”
The Met Office advised all fishing boats and trawlers along the northern part of the Bay and deep sea to stay close to the coast and move with caution until further notice. Vessels have also been advised “not to venture into deep sea”.
Laila came along a trek formed by almost perennial visitations by cyclonic storms of varied magnitudes—previous three, namely Sidr, Aila and Nargis, were so devastating in their fury.
BDST: 1035, May 19, 2010
AKR/MUA
