Cyclone Mocha hits Myanmar-Bangladesh coastline, over 4 lakh people evacuated from Cox Bazar

As per local administration, more than 250 medical teams are on standby to meet any emergency arising due to the cyclone.

Over 4 lakh people have been evacuated from the coastal areas of Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram till now.

Local administration is providing dry food to the evacuated people at the Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram cyclone shelters.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department's latest bulletin at 10.30 a.m the outer rim of the very severe cyclonic storm Mocha has started crossing Cox’s Bazar area of Bangladesh and the North Myanmar coast.

"The Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, and other coastal areas are experiencing intermittent rain and high-speed winds of 50-60 km per hour under the peripheral impact of the cyclone," it said.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department in its latest bulletin has said that the cyclone remained centred at 9 a.m. in the morning on Sunday about 250 km from Cox's Bazar, 335 kms from Chattogram, 435 km from Mongla, and 350 km from Payra port.

Earlier the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said: "It is very likely to move north-northeastwards and cross southeast Bangladesh and north Myanmar coasts between Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh) and Kyaukpyu (Myanmar) as an extremely severe cyclonic storm 180-190 kmph gusting to 210 kmph."

In view of changing weather, IMD has issued rain and storm warnings for Andaman and Nicobar Islands, parts of Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Assam on May 14.

The IMD warned of minor damage to loose/unsecured structures, uprooting of small trees and breaking of tree branches, the possibility of landslides in vulnerable areas, and damage to small trees such as bananas in Mizoram, Tripura, and south Manipur.

The weather agency advised fishermen, ships, boats, and trawlers not to venture into the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal and north Andaman Sea till May 14 and into the northeast Bay of Bengal.

[With UNI inputs]