Cyclone Midhili Loses Steam, Transforms into Deep Depression – Northern State on Red Alert.
New Delhi: The cyclonic storm ‘Midhili’ has weakened into a deep depression over Tripura and adjoining Bangladesh, situated about 50 km N-NE of Maijdicourt (Bangladesh) and 60 km S-SE of Agartala. This comes after the storm passed through the Sunderbans and is now headed towards North-Northeast over South Assam, Mizoram, and Tripura. Earlier predictions indicated that it would make landfall on the Bangladesh coast.
In the wake of this weather disturbance, heavy rainfall has been lashing northeastern states, including Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, and Assam. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) suggests that these weather conditions are likely to persist on Saturday, urging residents to remain cautious.
In response to the intensifying storm, district administrations and disaster management authorities in Mizoram have issued notices, advising people to stay alert and take necessary precautions. Simultaneously, a red alert has been declared in four districts of Tripura, heightening preparedness measures.
The IMD’s forecast for the Aizawl district anticipates 51 mm of rain between the mornings of November 17 and 18. Other districts, including Champhai (52 mm), Kolasib (58 mm), Lawngtlai (52 mm), and Mamit (56 mm), are also expected to experience heavy rainfall. The state capital, Agartala, has already recorded 87 mm of rainfall since Thursday evening, as reported by PTI.
The storm, named ‘Midhili’ by the Maldives, follows the naming convention adopted by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and member countries of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission (ESCAP). Countries affected by cyclones in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal rotate in assigning names to these weather phenomena.
