Bangladesh: The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm named ‘Midhili,’ as confirmed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Positioned at about 190 km east of Paradip (Odisha), 200 km south-southeast of Digha (West Bengal), and 220 km southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), the storm is anticipated to move north-northeastwards. ‘Midhili’ is predicted to cross the Bangladesh coast close to Khepupara with a wind speed of 60-70 kmph, gusting to 80 kmph, during the night of November 17 or the early hours of November 18.
The name ‘Midhili’ was assigned by the Maldives, following the rotational naming convention among countries affected by cyclones in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. While Odisha is likely to be minimally impacted as the storm passes over 150 kilometers from its coast, districts such as Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur may experience heavy rainfall on Friday. The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) of Odisha has placed all District Collectors on alert, taking precautionary measures in anticipation of the cyclone.
On the West Bengal front, coastal districts like North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, East Medinipur, and Kolkata are expected to receive rainfall ranging from 20 mm to 110 mm within 24 hours on Friday. This marks the second deep depression of the season, with the previous cyclone, Hamoon, also heading toward the Bangladesh coast. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and issuing alerts in coastal areas to ensure preparedness for any potential impact.
