The destruction caused by Cyclone Amphan in East Midnapore in West Bengal on Wednesday. (Express photo)
Weather forecast Today, Cyclone Amphan Live Updates: Cyclone Amphan, which wreaked havoc in the states of West Bengal and Odisha and claimed at least 10-12 lives, is likely to weaken into a deep depression in the next three hours and then into a depression in the subsequent six hours, the Indian Meteorological Department said on Thursday.
The super cyclonic storm made landfall in the coastal areas of West Bengal on Wednesday noon killing at least 10 people, and leaving a trail of destruction behind. Odisha is assessing the damage caused by the cyclone, which has also impacted its coastal districts. The cyclone hit the states at a time when it is already struggling to fight the transmission of the novel coronavirus.
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee informed that a meeting of a special task force will take place today to asses the damage and find ways to provide relief to the people. Chief secretary Rajiva Sinha said, “It will take time for our workers to reach the affected areas. It will be only day after tomorrow that proper work can begin. The cyclone is still in North 24 parganas. There is huge loss in agriculture. We will first provide humanitarian help like food, water and shelter to those affected. Then we will think of a way to financially help or provide job avenues, so that they can stand on their feet.”
Puri: Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik gives final touches to his sand sculpture on cyclone Amphan at Puri beach, Monday, May 18, 2020. (PTI)
Chengalpattu: Fishermen work at a beach in the backdrop of a rough sea due to Cyclone Amphan, at Mamallapuram in Chengalpattu district, Monday, May 18, 2020. (PTI)
As the cyclone intensified, wind gathered speed uprooting trees and damaging electrical poles. (Express photo)
In Kolkata, the storm began with a wind speed of 69 kmph but it reached 130 kmph at around 6.55 pm and thereafter increased its intensity. In Dum Dum area, maximum wind speed recorded was 133 kmph at 1920 IST. Districts of East Midnapore, South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas were worst affected. The same areas were affected by cyclone Bulbul in November 2019.
Cyclone Amphan hit West Bengal and Odisha at a time when it is already struggling to fight the transmission of the novel coronavirus. Watch video here:
Speaking to media from control room at Nabanna (state secretariat), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “Atleast 10 to 12 people have died. Districts like North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Kolkata, West Midnapore, East Midnapore, even Puruli Bankura has been affected by Amphan. In fact the whole of South Bengal has been affected. We are shocked. It will take three to four days to asses the damage done." “On one hand we are fighting with Covid 19 on the other hand lakhs of migrants are coming back. Over all this now the cyclone. I think that this (Amphan) is a disaster bigger than Covid 19. I would request (centre) please forget politics and co operate with us and save the people,” she added.
Cyclone Amphan left a trail of destruction in East Midnapore, West Bengal, on Wednesday. (Express photo)
Cyclone Amphan, which wreaked havoc in the states of West Bengal and Odisha and claimed at least 10-12 lives, is likely to weaken into a deep depression in the next three hours and then into a depression in the subsequent six hours, the weather body said today.
With West Bengal in the eye of Amphan, Odisha is assessing the damage caused by the cyclone, which has impacted its coastal districts.
However, officials say, the worst is now over for the state as Amphan has made landfall in neighbouring West Bengal. There were turbulent conditions on Wednesday for about seven hours, and the “damage has not been too bad”, an official said.
On reports of the death of a person due to the cyclone, the official said that there were “contradictory versions”, and that an official confirmation will be available on Thursday. Read more here
With West Bengal in the eye of Amphan, Odisha is assessing the damage caused by the cyclone, which has impacted its coastal districts.
However, officials say, the worst is now over for the state as Amphan has made landfall in neighbouring West Bengal. There were turbulent conditions on Wednesday for about seven hours, and the “damage has not been too bad”, an official said.
On reports of the death of a person due to the cyclone, the official said that there were “contradictory versions”, and that an official confirmation will be available on Thursday. Read more here
Cyclone Amphan, which is pronounced as Um-pun, is ripping through West Bengal and parts of Bangladesh. After making landfall at 2.30 pm between Digha in West Bengal and and Hatiya island in Bangladesh, Amphan cut a swathe through the coastal areas, flattening dwellings, uprooting trees and electric poles. Did you miss our explainer on some of your most frequently asked questions about the cyclone? Read it here
Over one million consumers in the coastal areas of Bangladesh were without power after strong winds snapped electricity lines and many houses were destroyed as the country was hit by cyclone Amphan. "More than one million consumers in at least 17 associations of the Rural Electrification Board have lost electricity," bdnews24.com reported. Apart from this, almost 40,000 customers of West Zone Power Distribution Company have lost electricity supply. PTI
At least 10 people have died in West Bengal due to cyclone and various districts have been devasted.'Atleast 10 to 12 people have died. Districts like North and South 24 parganas, Howrah, Kolkata, West Midnapore, East Midnapore, even Puruli Bankura has been affected by Amphan. In fact the whole of South Bengal has been affected. We are shocked. It will take three to four days to asses the damage done,' said Mamata Banerjee speaking to media from control room at Nabanna (state secretariat). 'On one hand we are fighting with Covid 19 on the other hand Lakhs of migrants are coming back. Over all this now the cyclone. I think that this (Amphan) is a disaster bigger than Covid 19. I would request (centre) please forget politics and co operate with us and save the people,' she added.
As Amphan batters Kolkata, the city has been damaged. Terrible visuals of electricity transformers exploding, trees falling, walls collapsing power and landline phone outages reported.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday expressed concern over the situation arising out of Cyclone Amphan in West Bengal and Odisha. The Vice President's Secretariat tweeted saying Naidu has expressed concern over the situation arising out of the cyclone. According to latest reports, an extremely severe cyclone packing winds of up to 190 kmph roared into West Bengal on Wednesday, dumping heavy rain and leaving a trail of destruction that left at least two people dead.
"He spoke to the Union Minister Babul Supriyo, and Rajya Sabha MPs Manas Ranjan Bhunia & Sukhendu Sekhar Roy to ascertain the impact in West Bengal following the landfall of the cyclone," the VP Secretariat said.
Streets in Kolkata waterlogged, trees uprooted and houses damaged due to strong winds and heavy rain as Amphan crossed West Bengal-Bangladesh coast between Digha and Hatiya Islands across Sunderbans, between 15:30 and 17:30 hours today. The extremely severe Cyclone Amphan over Northwest Bay Of Bengal moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 25 kmph during past 06 hours, crossed West Bengal – Bangladesh coasts as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm. The Super Cyclone Amphan over Northwest BayOfBengal moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 25 kmph during past 06 hours, crossed WestBengal – Bangladesh coasts as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.
After making landfall at 2.30 p.m. between Digha in West Bengal and and Hatiya island in Bangladesh, cyclone Amphan cut a swathe through the coastal areas, flattening fragile dwellings, uprooting trees and electric poles. At least 6.58 lakh people were evacuated in West Bengal and Odisha before the cyclone struck.
With Cyclone Amphan making landfall, IMD DG Dr M Mohapatra tells Esha Roy that they expect windspeeds to go upto 185 kmph over the North and South 24 Paraganas, which will be the worst-hit by the cyclone.
“A tidal wave of 4-5 metres above astronomical tide is likely to travel for 10-15 kilometers inland and inundate the lowlying regions of these two districts. A tidal wave of 3-4 metres above astronomical tide is also expected in East Midnapore and north coastal Odisha, inundating these areas. The region being riverine, the rivers and inlets will carry the tidal wave into the land,” says Dr Mohapatra.
“We are still watching the cyclone very closely, as the work does not end with the landfall. The next 24 hours will be crucial to asses and
repair the damage that will be caused. We have evacuated 5 lakh people in West Bengal to cyclone shelters, and another 1,58,640 people in
Odisha. We have based our preparedness on cyclone Fani and our teams are equipped with satellite communications, plenty of tree and pole
cutters,” he says.
Intense rainfall was recorded in several areas of Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Ganjam, Ganjam, Bhadrak and Balasore districts since Tuesday. The rains and high-velocity winds will ebb away in Odisha by late Wednesday night by when the cyclone will likely have caused massive damage to standing crops, plantations and infrastructure, Mohapatra said. He said tidal surge of up to five metres could occur in North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts that could submerge areas in a radius of 15 km. The strong winds and rain could continue till tomorrow in West Bengal, he said. The turbulence will likely extend to Assam and Meghalaya, triggering heavy to very heavy rain on Thursday.
Two women were reportedly killed in Howrah district and Minakhan area of North 24 Parganas district due to uprooting of trees. At least 6.58 lakh people were evacuated in West Bengal and Odisha before the cyclone struck.
Cyclone Amphan will reach near Kolkata by evening and the city along with adjoining districts will witness strong winds with an intensity of 110-120 kilometres per hour, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said on Wednesday as the storm was making landfall. The extremely severe cyclonic storm' Amphan will completely enter the land by 7 PM, Mohapatra added. The cyclone is moving at a speed of 25-30 kilometres per hour. Winds with a speed of 155-165 kilometres per hour have commenced in South and North 24 Parganas and East Medinipur districts.
Cyclone Amphan is currently crossing the West Bengal coast near the Sunderbans and will reach near Kolkata by evening, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said on Wednesday as the storm was making a landfall. He said strong winds with an intensity of 160 kilometres per hour have commenced in coastal West Bengal districts. "The first arm of Cyclone Amphan has touched the land. The eye of the cyclone is expected to touch land anytime," he said.