The cyclonic storm "Kyant" over the east-central Bay of Bengal yesterday (Tuesday) changed its course again and was moving westward, apparently for the Odisha or Andhra coast of India. The deep depression over the east-central Bay and the adjoining area earlier yesterday gathered strength and turned into a cyclonic storm. Initially, it was headed west-northwestward and later changed course, packing winds with speed reaching 88km per hour from 62kmph at its centre.
At 6pm yesterday, the storm was 595km south-southwest of Chittagong Port, 520km south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar Port, 615km south of Mongla Port and 555km south of Payra Port, the Met office said in a special bulletin. It asked the maritime ports to keep the distant warning signal number 2 hoisted. All fishing boats and trawlers in the north Bay have been advised to move cautiously, staying close to the coast until further notice as the sea has become very rough due to high winds. The Met office said "Kyant" is a Myanmarese word meaning stormy sea. The depression formed on Sunday had turned into a deep depression and then a cyclonic storm. It is likely to hit the coast sometime on Friday and cause winds and rain along the southern coast of Bangladesh. This is the second cyclone to have formed in east-central Bay after "Roanu" in May this year.