Bhubaneswar (PTI): The deep depression formed over the Bay of Bengal may intensify into a cyclone by Monday evening, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a bulletin.

The cyclonic storm, after its formation, will be called 'Hamoon', a name given by Iran.

The system is currently located in west-central Bay of Bengal after moving northeastwards on Sunday night. It lies centred around 400 km from Odisha's Paradip and 550 km south-southwest of Digha in West Bengal.

"It is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm over the next 12 hours. It is very likely to move north-northeastwards and cross the Bangladesh coast between Khepupara and Chittagong around October 25 evening as a deep depression," the IMD's morning bulletin said.

Meanwhile, the Odisha government has asked all the district collectors to remain prepared for any eventuality, and directed the administration to evacuate people from low-lying areas in the event of heavy rain.

"The system (cyclone) will move in the sea around 200 km from Odisha coast," weather scientist US Dash said, adding that under its influence, light to moderate rainfall is likely at a few places in coastal Odisha on Monday and at many places over the next two days.

The weather department said that light to moderate rainfall would occur at a few places in northern and southern coastal districts, besides Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Dhenkanal.

The fisheries and animal resources development department has advised fishermen not to venture into deep seas.

Keeping in view of the weather conditions, Durga Puja organisers are preparing for possible rain and wind during the festivities.

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Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka BJP has alleged that Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge's social media is managed by foreign handlers, referring to a verified Facebook page in his name, a charge debunked by his son.

Kharge's son and Karnataka Minister for Electronics, IT/BT Priyank Kharge said the page is "fake" and that they have requested Facebook to take it down.

"Mallikarjun Kharge, who is in news for waqf land grab, now has foreign handlers managing his social media. We've been warning about the foreign influence behind Congress’s divisive caste-based politics, and this only confirms it. Why@khargeji?," Karnataka BJP posted on 'X'

"Why trust foreign handlers over your own people? After all that India has given you, why this betrayal?" it further asked, while sharing a screenshot of "page information" from a Facebook page in Mallikarjun Kharge's name.

The "page information" of the Facebook page bearing Mallikarjun Kharge's name says, "Primary country/region location for people who manage this Page includes: Norway (1)"

Mallikarjun Kahrge is also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha.

Hitting back at BJP's post, Priyank Kharge said despite having what they claim to be the “most effective Home Minister” in India’s history (referring to Amit Shah), BJP cannot determine whether an Opposition Leader’s account is genuine.

"I truly appreciate the relentless efforts of @BJP4India’s IT Cell. For just Rs 2, they’ve launched a malicious social media campaign against Congress President, Shri @kharge," he said in a post on 'X'.

"For clarity, Kharge has only two official social media accounts," he said, sharing the links of the Congress president's 'X' account and WhatsApp Channel.

Instead of focusing on pressing national issues, BJP seems obsessed with investigating a dead Facebook page that hasn’t been active since 2020, linked to an unknown email, Priyank Kharge said, adding, "Since we have no idea who is behind it, we’ve officially requested Facebook to take it down. Moreover, a Facebook Blue Tick is easily obtained through a paid subscription."