Yesterday's depression in the East Bay of Bengal has intensified into a tropical cyclone named Maarutha, which was centered over the East-Central Bay of Bengal early this morning.

The cyclone's track is northeasterly, which is expected to take it towards the Myanmar coast for a likely landfall by midnight tonight.

Intensifies twice

Yesterday, India Met Department had short stop of forecasting the formation of a full-blown cyclone in the Bay and suggested that it might enter Myanmar coast as a deep depression (just below cyclone status).

But during the night, the depression took full advantage of the supportive environment over the warm Bay waters as well as the immediate atmosphere to intensify twice over as a deep depression and then cyclone Maarutha.

The system moved laterally over the waters at a good pace of 24 km/hr, and was last located about 380 km north-northwest of Maya Bander (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) and 350 km south-west of Sandoway (Myanmar).

Heavy rain, high winds

The cyclone, the first of the pre-monsoon phase in the Bay, woould continue to move northeastwards and cross the Myanmar coast near Sandoway by midnight tonight.

The Met has issued a heavy rainfall warning with light to moderate rainfall being forecast at most places over Andaman & Nicobar Islands during the next 24 hours.

Squally winds with speeds reaching 45- to 55 km/hr and gusting to 65 km/hr would prevail over the Andaman Islands and adjoining sea areas during this period.

The sea condition would be 'rough' to 'very rough' along and off the Andaman Islands. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the nearby seas.

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