Various northeastern states on Friday sounded an alert following heavy rain accompanied by moderate range cyclone as a deep depression and cyclonic storm "Midhili" (pronounced as "Midhili") over Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.
Cyclone 'Midhili' would hit Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, parts of Assam and other parts of northeastern states when it crossed to Bangladesh coast on Friday night or in the early hours of Saturday.
"Cyclone 'Midhili' would cross Bangladesh coast close to Khepupara with a wind speed of 60-70 km per hour gusting to 80 km per hour during Friday night. Under its influence, an increase in rainfall activity accompanied with heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely to occur over various places in the northeast region on Friday and on Saturday," an IMD said in a statement.
Moderate to heavy rain battered Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, parts of Assam and adjoining areas of northeast on Friday badly affecting normal life.
Electric supply and vehicular traffic also partially disrupted in different northeastern states.
The concerned state governments asked the district administrations and disaster management authorities to take precautionary measures against any eventuality that can be caused due to the cyclone and rain.
The cyclonic storm would be moving past the Sundarbans in Bangladesh before making landfall on the Bangladesh coast with a maximum wind speed of 80 kmph during Friday night or early Saturday morning, the IMD said.
The concerned state disaster management authorities under the close supervision of senior officials are monitoring the situation.
55th GST Council meet: All eyes on health insurance premiums, ATF, 'Sin Tax'
As the 55th meeting of the GST Council was set to begin in Jaisalmer on Saturday, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the proposed rate cut on health insurance premiums and the inclusion of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) under the GST ambit would be among the key focus areas.
PM Modi to begin historic Kuwait visit today; focus on labour, bilateral ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a landmark two-day visit to Kuwait on Saturday, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Gulf nation in 43 years.
Jaipur tanker accident and inferno toll touches 13
The tragic accident on Friday morning at the Ajmer Highway in Jaipur claimed the lives of eight people and left over 35 injured, when an LPG gas tanker collided with a truck.
NE not just strategically important but also an epitome of nation's diversity, culture: Minister
Union Minister of State for DoNER Sukanta Majumdar on Friday underscored the strategic importance of the northeastern region and said that the region is not just a geographically significant part of the country but it is also an epitome of the nation's diversity, culture, and strategic importance.
Rajasthan: Death toll in LPG tanker blast rises to 12; CM Sharma orders probe
The death toll in the devastating explosion in an LPG tanker near Jaipur increased to 12 while at least 33 others were wounded, an official said on Friday, adding that most of the injured individuals sustained critical burn injuries.
Solidifying partnership with Gulf countries, PM Modi set to embark on historic Kuwait visit
Committed to fostering longstanding, historic and close relations with all Gulf countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a two-day visit to Kuwait starting Saturday - the first by an Indian PM to the key West Asian country in 43 years.
Khalistani separatist Pannun's threat to Indian ambassador 'serious' issue, taken up with US: MEA
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday revealed that New Delhi has taken "seriously" the latest threat issued by the US-based Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun against India's Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra and raised it accordingly with the authorities in Washington.
Om Prakash Chautala: Five-time Haryana CM who cleared Class 10, 12 exams at age of 87
Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) president and five-time Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, whose family ruled the state’s dusty and defection-ridden politics for decades largely in rural areas with predominant Jat voters, died in Gurugram after a cardiac arrest on Friday.