Will Cyclone Bulbul be as severe as Aila? When will it hit Sunderbans?

25th May 2009 and 9th November 2019 seem to be bound by one thread --- deadly cyclones daring to hit the coasts of Bengal. Sunderbans is again at stake! Cyclone Bulbul intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm triggering heavy rain in parts of Bengal and Odisha. It is likely to make a landfall between Bengal and Bangladesh late Saturday or early hours of Sunday, bringing heavy rain and gusts of up to 135 kmph in the coastal areas, the weather department said. The storm might cause damage to kutcha houses, power and communication lines and roads in Bengal. It might also uproot trees, ruin crops and cause embankment erosion, he warned. It is expected to cross Bengal and Bangladesh coast across Sundarbans Delta around midnight on November 9. 

During landfall, Bulbul cyclone is ‘very likely’ to be in the ‘severe cyclonic storm’ category with maximum sustained wind speed of 110 to 120 km per hour, gusting up to 135 kmph. The fishing operation has been totally suspended over Odisha- Bengal coasts. Cyclone warning has been issued and fishermen have been warned against venturing into the sea for fishing till further orders. The fishermen out at sea are advised to return to the coast.

Under its impact, heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy rain at one or two places is likely to occur in the coastal districts of North and South 24 Parganas on November 9 and 10, the Met office said. It will also bring heavy rain in Kolkata East and West Midnapore, Howrah, Hooghly and Nadia district during the two days.