Cyclone Bulbul: At least 10 killed in West Bengal, Odisha; heavy rainfall predicted

kolkata : At least 10 people have been reported killed in West Bengal and Odisha after cyclone bulbul lashed the coastal areas over the weekend. 2.73 lakh families were evacuated to safety, ensuring less loss of life.

India's Meteorological Department has said that the cyclone will now start to weaken, but they have advised to stay away from coasts as heavy rainfall is likely to continue for next 12-14 hours.

On Saturday night, the wind were passing at a speed of 100 and 120 km per hour (62-75 mph); the speeds have now come down to 70 and 80 kph with low coastal areas getting flooded with water.

“It may take a couple of days to get a normal situation,” the authorities told Reuters.

The cyclone season in the Bay of Bengal can last from April to December. In 1999 a super-cyclone battered the coast of India’s Odisha state for 30 hours, killing 10,000 people.