Cyclonic storm Fengal moves northwestwards over Bay

Maritime ports in Bangladesh have been instructed to keep distant warning signal number two hoisted as Cyclonic Storm Fengal intensifies over the Southwest Bay of Bengal, reports UNB.

According to a special bulletin from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), as of 6 am on Saturday, Fengal was positioned approximately 1,650 kilometres southwest of Chattogram port, 1,605 kilometres southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 1,505 kilometres  southwest of Mongla port, and 1,515 kilometres southwest of Payra port. The storm, which has sustained winds of around 62 km/h near its centre, with gusts reaching up to 88 km/h, is moving in a north-westerly direction.

It is expected to make landfall along the northern Tamil Nadu coast around midday today (Saturday).

The sea remains very rough near the cyclone's centre, prompting authorities to advise all fishing boats and trawlers operating in the North Bay and the deep sea to stay close to the coast and exercise caution until further notice.

While the cyclone poses no immediate threat to the Bangladeshi coastline, authorities remain vigilant as the system progresses.