Cyclone Mocha: All you need to know about the landfall and India impact

Cyclone 'Mocha' is predicted to make landfall on Sunday, and NDRF teams and monitoring the likely untoward situation.

Cyclone Mocha, which is the season's first cyclonic storm of the North Indian Ocean, has taken shape over the Bay of Bengal. Now it is expected to intensify into a "very severe" cyclonic storm.

As per predictions made by the weather office, Cyclone Mocha will make a landfall somewhere along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border on Sunday (May 14). Hence, several Indian states, including West Bengal, are on alert for heavy rainfall with Cyclone Mocha making its progress steadily.

Here’s all you need to know as of today (May 12) about Cyclone Mocha.

Where will Cyclone Mocha make landfall?

Cyclone Mocha will reportedly make a landfall between Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh and Kyaukpyu, which is close to port city Sittwe in Myanmar, by Sunday. For the unversed, Cox's Bazar makes for the world’s largest refugee camp, and shelters over 9 lakh Rohingya Muslims, who fled the persecution and violence Myanmar in August 2017.

Hence, all the fishermen, ships, boats and trawlers in the area have been guided to not

venture into the central and northeast Bay of Bengal and north Andaman Sea until further notice by the weather office.

How will Cyclone Mocha impact India?

As of Friday, Cyclone Mocha has been aggressive over the southeast and adjoining areas of central Bay of Bengal. While it will reportedly make a landfall along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, the northeastern parts of India are vulnerable as well. Hence, a high alert in the northeastern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has also been issued.

As per the IMD predictions, Tripura and Mizoram might get  heavy showers Saturday onwards. Nagaland, Manipur and south Assam will also be hit by rains on Sunday. Kerala, Odisha and Karnataka, on the other hand, will receive moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms.

What path will Cyclone Mocha take?

The IMD mentioned that Cyclone Mocha has paved its way over the Southeast adjoining central Bay of Bengal towards North, and within the past 6 hours, it has turned into a severe cyclonic storm.

Where does the name 'Mocha' come from?

Like every tropical cyclone, 'Mocha' was named by weather forecasters, and this one was named by Yemen after a small fishing village in the country, which is famous for its coffee production.