Cyclone Sitrang Intensifies; Heavy Rain Alert For Bengal, Northeast

• The weather department has predicted heavy rain and strong winds in West Bengal and the Northeast as cyclonic storm 'Sitrang' intensifies and moves towards Bangladesh.
• According to IMD, the cyclone is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and cross the Bangladesh coast between Tinkona Island and Sandwip, close to Barisal, in the early hours tomorrow

• Ahead of the Sitrang cyclone, Civil defence teams deployed at Bakkhali Sea Beach in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas

• NDRF teams deployed at Gangasagar, Diamond Harbour, Kakdwip, Gosaba by the administration ahead of the Sitarang cyclone

• The southern districts of West Bengal, including Kolkata, woke up to light rain and an overcast sky on Monday as cyclone 'Sitrang' moved towards north Bay of Bengal, raising the likelihood of a downpour during the day and threatening to dampen Diwali festivities. The system is expected to make a landfall between Tinkona island and Sandwip in Bangladesh early on October 25, the Met department said. It lay centred around 430 km south of Sagar Island on Monday morning, the department said.