The India Meteorological Department on Sunday said that Cyclonic Storm Amphan in Bay of Bengal has intensified into a Severe Cyclonic Storm and will cross West Bengal and Bangladesh”s Sagar and Hatiya island on May 20.
“The cyclonic storm over Southeast Bay of Bengal moved slowly north-westwards with a speed of three kmph during past six hours [and] intensified into a severe cyclonic storm,” said Sunitha Devi, IMDAscientist in-charge for cyclones.
The cyclone currently lies centred about 990 km south of Odisha”s Paradip, 1,140 km south-southwest of West Bengal”s Digha and 1,260 km south-southwest of Bangladesh”s Khepupara. “It is likely to intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours,” she added.