IMD shares alert on Cyclone Tej

October 20, 2023: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning about the possibility of Mumbai, Pune and Konkan getting affected because of a cyclonic storm developing in the Arabian Sea.

In case a tropical storm is formed, based on the nomenclature for naming cyclones in the Indian Ocean Region, this will be called Tej.

The met department had mentioned in a tweet that a low pressure area had formed over Southeast and adjoining Eastcentral Arabian Sea on October 18, 2023 morning.  This is expected to move West-Northwestwards and intensify into a Depression around October 21, 2023.

Owing to elevated ocean temperatures, every year October- December is the time when cyclone formation in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal is very common. Even though as of now the chance of the cyclonic storm intensifying is not too high, the IMD has warned fishermen in Maharashtra and Gujarat from venturing in the sea.

Things to do during lightning and thunderstorms

According to the IMD, follow these pointers if stuck during heavy lightning and thunderstorms.

•   Don’t take shelter under isolated trees
•   Get out of watery areas like the sea, pond, river, fields etc.
•   Seek shelter in pucca houses and don’t come out till half an hour after the last clap of the thunder.
•   In case of no shelter, come in the lightning crouch position – ball like position with your head under and you have closed your ears with hands.
•   Do not use electrical gadgets.
•   Do not go near power lines that have been affected by water.