Cyclone Yaas

 

Cyclonic Storm Yaas, likely to hit Northern Odisha and West Bengal coasts in next 24 hours

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Tuesday said the cyclonic storm Yaas intensified into a Severe Cyclonic Storm on May 24 and is likely to move north-northwestwards, to cross between Paradip and Sagar Island around Balasore, during noon of 26th May as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.

The Odisha government rushed a large contingent of rescue and relief teams to Balasore district bordering West Bengal on Monday where the very severe cyclonic storm Yaas is likely to make landfall was reported. A massive evacuation drive will be launched in all low-lying areas and vulnerable storm-surge pockets, following the IMD predicting a tidal surge of 2-4.5 meters during the landfall of Yaas, an official said.

It is estimated that this will be a very severe cyclonic storm with winds blowing at a speed of 170-185 kilometers per hour. According to the meteorological department, on Monday morning this pressure zone was between Paradip in Odisha and Digha in West Bengal and it is expected to move north-northwest and turn into a very severe cyclone by Tuesday i.e. till today.

The West Bengal government has opened control rooms in the state secretariat to keep an eye on the cyclone.  According to the Meteorological Department, on May 26, most of the places in Jhargram, East and West Medinipur, South and North 24 Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly, and Kolkata are expected to be light to moderate and heavy to heavy at one or two places.

The Odisha government has deployed rescue teams to evacuate people from sensitive areas to safer places. Special Relief Commissioner PK Jena said that the Odisha government has deployed NDRF, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, and fire service personnel. It is estimated that the cyclone may have a major impact in Balasore and Bhadrak districts. The four coastal districts of Odisha, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, and Jagatsinghpuris can be the worst affected by the cyclone. Winds can run at a speed of 120-165 hours per hour and there will be heavy rains in Odisha

109 teams of NDRF have been deployed in West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Andaman, and the Nicobar Islands. Anand Shankar of IMD Bihar said that the impact of Yaas storm in Bihar will be seen on 27,28 and 29 May, which is likely to cause heavy rains.

Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Mansukh Mandaviya held a high-level meeting regarding Cyclone Yaas. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also held a meeting with the chief ministers of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to review preparations given Cyclone Yaas.