Cyclone Amphan live updates: Odisha, West Bengal to wintness heavy rains coupled with high-velocity winds

37 NDRF teams to combat dual challenge of cyclone 'Amphan', Covid-19: DG

The NDRF has enhanced its strength to a total of 37 teams, with the addition of 20 more, to combat the "dual challenge" of cyclone 'Amphan' amid the coronavirus pandemic, the chief of the federal contingency force said on Monday. S N Pradhan, the NDRF Director DG, said the force is fully geared with all the equipment and paraphernalia to face the "developing situation which the IMD has said will turn into a very severe cyclonic storm by this evening and continue to be so for sometime".

'Amphan' to intensify into super cyclone by Monday evening, PM to chair meeting to review situation

Cyclonic storm 'Amphan' is likely to intensify into a super cyclone by Monday evening and unleash heavy rains coupled with high-velocity winds in coastal Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a high-level meeting to review the situation arising out of the cyclone.

Bengal on alert as 'Amphan' approaches

With 'Amphan' turning into a super-cyclone, the Mamata Banerjee-led government geared up to make necessary arrangements for the cyclonic spell that is expected to make a landfall in the state on Wednesday. The government sources said that special arrangements have been made by deploying specialised disaster management teams at Sagar Island and Kakdweep in South 24-Parganas district.

The cyclone is all set to unleash heavy rains coupled with high-velocity winds in coastal Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

We expect widespread rain in coastal Odisha tomorrow. On May 20, there could be heavy to very heavy rainfall in northern districts of the state, with wind speed reaching up to 110kmph in certain parts of Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur, says Odisha spl relief commissioner.

Cyclone Amphan may turn into super cyclone between today evening and tomorrow morning. It'll make landfall between Digha and Hathiya island on May 20: Odisha special relief commissioner PK Jena

In Odisha (7 districts) & West Bengal (6 districts), a total of 37 NDRF teams have been deployed, of which 20 teams will be actively deployed by the end of this day and 17 teams are on standby: SN Pradhan, NDRF DG

The extremely severe cyclonic storm intensified into a super cyclone and lay centred at 770 km south from Paradeep. It will cross the land with weakened intensity on May 20 afternoon. The exact place of landfall is yet to be ascertained: IMD

To review arising cyclone situation, PM Narendra Modi to chair high-level meeting with MHA, NDMA at 4pm: Union home minister Amit Shah

North Odisha coast will face maximum impact of Amphan when it makes landfall. Wind speed expected to be 110-120 mph, gusting up to 130kmph. Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj districts can be affected on 20 May: ANI quotes Umashankar Das, scientist, IMD Bhubaneswar

The cyclonic storm will move towards north-northeast direction and cross Digha (West Bengal)-Hathiya island (Bangladesh) on the afternoon/evening of May 20 with a wind speed of 155-165 kmph, says IMD director general, Delhi.

Cyclone Amphan in the Bay of Bengal, intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm at 2.30am today. It is expected to further intensify into a super cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours: Mrutyunjaya Mohapatra, IMD director general, Delhi

Around 50 boats of fishermen have been damaged in Rameswaram following the thunderstorm and rainfall which hit parts of the state last night.

'Cyclone warning cage number 2' have been hoisted at Pamban bridge in Tamil Nadu's Rameswaram, in view of very severe cyclonic storm 'Amphan'. The Met department said the storm would intensify further.

Fishermen are advised not to venture into the central Bay of Bengal and the North Bay of Bengal during May 19 and 20: Weather department

The NDRF is monitoring the situation and working with states and their disaster management teams and the IMD.

"Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) 'AMPHAN'over central parts of South Bay of Bengal near latitude 12.5°N and longitude 86.4°E, about 870 km nearly south of Paradip (Odisha). To intensify further into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm (ESCS) in the next six hours," the IMD said in a tweet on Monday.