The eastern coasts of India are on high alert as a major storm, brewing in the Bay of Bengal, is likely to intensify into Cyclone Mocha on Wednesday, the weather office said.
The India Meteorological Department told the nation's media that on Wednesday by 5:30 a.m., the storm is expected to morph into Cyclone Mocha in the next 12 hours, with wind speeds of 80-90 kmph and gusts reaching 100 kmph.
The cyclone will gradually intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of around 110 to 130 kmph by Thursday and Friday over the southeast and adjoining central Bay of Bengal, the MET department said in the statement.
Fishermen and operators of small ships and boats have been cautioned to not venture into the southeast and the adjoining central Bay of Bengal.
The disaster management authorities in the coastal states of Odisha and West Bengal are gearing up for the emergency.
Meanwhile, the MET Department has forecast severe downpours in several states including Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Karnataka over the next five days.