By IANS,
Kolkata : Six districts in West Bengal were put on alert Thursday in view of cyclone ‘Bijli’ which lay centred 680 km to the south and South West of Kolkata.
“The cyclone is likely to move in a north-westerly direction,” a regional meteorological department official said.
The Kolkata Port authorities have been directed to hoist local cautionary signal number three, the weatherman said.
State Relief Minister Mortaza Hossain said six cyclone-prone districts – Midnapore West, Midnapore East, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, and parts of Hooghy and Howrah – have been alerted to tackle any eventuality.
“The cyclone may hit the Orissa coast. Later, it may affect either West Bengal or Bangladesh,” Hossain told IANS.
An emergency control room has also been opened at the state secretariat.
Fishermen have been asked not to venture into the sea, he said.