Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday directed senior government officials to make all necessary arrangements after the Climate department alerted about a cyclonic storm that may hit West Bengal's coastal areas on May 26.

In a virtual meeting, Banerjee directed the officers to arrange for adequate stock of medicines, drinking water, dry food and tarpaulins. She also told the officers to ensure that adequate force, from the state disaster management team and the police, are deployed.

According to officials' statement, ''All cyclone centres and shelters have been asked to be readied. The district magistrates have been directed to take all precautionary measures in the wake of the warnings.''

Metrological debarment already  warned that a low-pressure area is very likely to form over North Andaman Sea and adjoining the east-central Bay of Bengal on May 22 and intensify into a cyclonic storm

Regional Metrological Director GK Das said that the low-pressure area, after formation on May 22, is very likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm during the subsequent 72 hours. Light to moderate rainfall is likely to commence from May 25 in the coastal districts of West Bengal. Rainfall is likely to increase significantly overall the south Bengal districts and intensify thereafter, He added.

Warning that sea conditions are likely to be rough to very rough, the Met Department advised fishermen not to venture into the Bay of Bengal from May 24.

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