After Laila & Phet, Cyclone Giri is next

After Aila, Phyan, Laila and Phet, the next cyclone to form over the Indian Ocean will be called Giri (meaning, mountain). One has always wondered how these cyclones got their names and who selected them. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) says the practice of naming storms (tropical cyclones) was adopted years ago to help identify them so that people could be informed about their arrival quickly.

This decision, to give names to the cyclones that form over the North Indian Ocean region, was taken unanimously by eight countries — Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand — in the year 2000.

More news:

• Pakistan, India warn of Cyclone Phet's approach
• Tropical Cyclone Phet raged over the Arabian Sea
• After Laila & Phet, Cyclone Giri is next
• Over 8,000 evacuated as Cyclone Phet expected to hit Gujarat coast on Friday
• Cyclone Phet takes aim at Oman, Pakistan on alert
• Cyclone Phet approaching Pakistan’s coastal areas