Depression to turn into cyclone after midnight, strike by Friday noon

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman has said the deep depression now lying in the Bay of Bengal will turn into a cyclonic storm after Thursday midnight.

It may strike 11 districts of 11 coastal regions of the country by 12:00 noon on Friday.

He stated it while addressing a press conference at his office at the secretariat on Thursday (November 16) evening).

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), once the deep depression becomes a cyclonic storm, it will be called Cyclone Midhili — a name suggested by the Maldives.

Cyclone Midhili is expected to make landfall between Khepupara and Mongla in Bangladesh on early Friday, the IMD said.

"It is likely to continue to move north-northeastwards, intensify further into a cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours and cross the Bangladesh coast between Mongla and Khepupara with a wind speed of 60-70 kmph, gusting to 80 kmph by the early hours of Saturday," it said.

END/SZA