Cyclone Mocha has been upgraded to a very severe cyclonic storm, and it's expected to make landfall along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. The Indian authorities are closely monitoring the cyclone and have deployed several teams to deal with any emergency situations.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed eight teams and 200 rescuers in West Bengal, with another 100 rescuers on standby to deal with any exigencies. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has also placed its units in the region on high alert.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Mocha will gradually intensify into a severe cyclone by Sunday. The storm is expected to pack winds of up to 150-160 km per hour and bring with it a storm surge of 1.5-2 meters for the low-lying coastal region of Bangladesh near Cox's Bazaar.
The IMD has urged fishermen and travellers not to venture into central and northeast Bay of Bengal and north Andaman sea till Sunday. The emergency operation centres are working round the clock to handle any natural calamities.
Several northeastern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been put on alert due to the weather system. The IMD has predicted that Tripura and Mizoram are likely to get heavy showers from tomorrow onwards. Nagaland, Manipur and south Assam will also witness rain at isolated places on Sunday.
The name 'Mocha' has been suggested by Yemen based on a small fishing village in the country known for its coffee production. Weather forecasters give each tropical cyclone a name to avoid confusion.