Cyclone Amphan LIVE Updates: Extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Amphan' made landfall at 2.30 pm today between Digha in West Bengal and Hatiya island in Bangladesh, the meteorological department said. The landfall process, triggering copious rain and gusty winds in Odisha and Bengal, will continue for about four hours. National Disaster Response Force (NDRC) chief SN Pradhan said more five Lakh people have been evacuated in West Bengal and 1,58,640 people in Odisha.
"The forward sector of the wall cloud region is entering into land in West Bengal. The intensity of the cyclone near its centre as the landfall process started was recorded at 160-170 kmph, gusting to 190 kmph," said the official.
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May 20, 2020 5:20 pm (IST)
Super Cyclone Amphan is crossing West Bengal Coast between Digha and Hatiya close to the Sunderbans. The forward sector of wall clouds has entered into the land. The landfall process will continue and take 2-3 hours to complete, the IMD says in its latest bulletin issued. Visuals from Digha.
Super Cyclone #Amphan is crossing West Bengal Coast between Digha&Hatiya close to Sunderban. The forward sector of wall clouds has entered into the land. Landfall process will continue and take 2-3 hours to complete: IMD in a bulletin issued at 4:30 pm; Visuals from Digha pic.twitter.com/DfSq4kVC17
VISUALS | Police officers carry a disabled man to a safer place following his evacuation from a slum area before Cyclone Amphan makes its landfall, in Kolkata. (Image: Reuters)
May 20, 2020 4:57 pm (IST)
VISUALS | A woman carries her son as she tries to protect him from heavy rain while they rush to a safer place, following their evacuation from a slum area before Cyclone Amphan makes its landfall, in Kolkata. (Image: Reuters)
May 20, 2020 4:51 pm (IST)
"Amphan will reach Bangladesh as a cyclonic storm and Assam as a deep depression," says IMD DG.
May 20, 2020 4:45 pm (IST)
Assam, Meghalya to See Heavy Rainfall | "Assam and Meghalaya will also see heavy to very heavy rains from tonight. Odisha will not see much rainfall from tomorrow," he says.
May 20, 2020 4:43 pm (IST)
"Heavy downpour already reported in Bengal as front section of the storm's eye has made landfall. Extensive damage will be seen when the rear sector of the eye of the storm makes landfall," Mohapatra says.
May 20, 2020 4:37 pm (IST)
"Bhadrak and Balasore (in Odisha) will continue to have damaging impact for 2-3 more hours. After this Odisha will not have any damaging impact," says Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.
May 20, 2020 4:35 pm (IST)
"In view of the prevailing Covid-19 scenario, all teams are equipped with PPE," officials say as the NDRF, IMD and Health Ministry brief the media on the current situation of cyclone Amphan and coronavirus.
May 20, 2020 4:26 pm (IST)
39 NDRF Teams Deployed | "39 NDRF teams have been deployed on the ground, 2 teams on reserve in West Bengal, one of them being deployed in Kolkata," the DG says.
May 20, 2020 4:21 pm (IST)
"Based on experiences during cyclone FANI, all the teams are equipped with tree cutters/pole cutters for post landfall restoration, if the need arises," says Pradhan.
May 20, 2020 4:20 pm (IST)
"More than 5 Lakh people have been evacuated in West Bengal and 1,58,640 people in Odisha," says NDRF chief SN Pradhan.
May 20, 2020 4:19 pm (IST)
"A close watch is being kept over cyclone Amphan. The situation is fast-transforming. Our duty becomes even more now and after the cyclone," says DG.
May 20, 2020 4:16 pm (IST)
NDRF, IMD, Health Min Hold Press Briefing | "The landfall has started happening In Odisha and West Bengal. The next 24 hours are crucial. This is a long haul," says NDRF DG.
May 20, 2020 4:08 pm (IST)
The intensity of the cyclone near its centre as the landfall process started was recorded at 160-170 kmph, gusting to 190 kmph, it said. Heavy rain and gale wind have affected several districts in the Gangetic West Bengal since morning and the intensity of the downpour and wind increased gradually with every passing hour. At 3.05 pm, wind speed at Dum Dum airport was recorded at 76 km per hour, the Met said.
May 20, 2020 4:02 pm (IST)
"There is information about one casualty in Bhadrak. Medical and admin team have proceeded to the village to inquest, after which the exact cause of death can be decided by the Collector. Another death occurred yesterday. It is not a cyclone-related death as of now," says Jena.
May 20, 2020 3:49 pm (IST)
The cyclone has moved down its originally forecasted path. It has already crossed Paradip, Kendrapara, Dhamra, and right now it is at sea adjoining Balasore. Maybe in another 3 hours, it will make landfall, says Pradeep Kumar Jena, IAS Special Relief Commissioner.
Cyclone #Amphan has moved down its originally forecasted path. It has already crossed Paradip, Kendrapara, Dhamra, and right now it is at sea adjoining Balasore. Maybe in another 3 hours, it will make landfall: Pradeep Kumar Jena, IAS Special Relief Commissioner #Odishapic.twitter.com/4J2aOsuXEQ
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel clear electricity wires and uprooted trees off the road between Digha in East Midnapore district of West Bangal and Odisha border. The landfall process of cyclone Amphan began around 2:30 pm and is likely to continue for about 4 hours.
West Bengal: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel clear electricity wires and uprooted trees off the road between Digha in East Midnapore district and Odisha border. The landfall process of #CycloneAmphan commenced since 2:30 PM, will continue for about 4 hours. pic.twitter.com/IKZ1QE3Gr1
Amphan Cyclone Landfall Process Started | Landfall process of cyclone starts, the Cyclone wall cloud is already on land, said secretary, ministry of Earth Sciences.
Update: Local workforce engaged in Sunderbans delta to protect embankments amid Cyclone Amphan.
May 20, 2020 3:09 pm (IST)
ALERT: Bangladesh Reports 1st Death from Cyclone Amphan | Bangladesh has reported its first death from Cyclone Amphan, AFP reports.
May 20, 2020 3:08 pm (IST)
Update, Landfall Process Commenced Since 2.30 | Landfall process commenced since 2:30 PM. It will continue for about 4 hours. The forward sector of the wall cloud region is entering into land in West Bengal.
May 20, 2020 3:07 pm (IST)
Woman Gives Birth in Fire Vehicle Amid 'Amphan' | A woman gave birth to a girl inside a fire service vehicle in Odisha's Kendrapara district on Wednesday amid the raging cyclone 'Amphan', an official said.
May 20, 2020 2:56 pm (IST)
Cyclone Amphan Update from IMD:
SUCS AMPHAN about 105 km southeast of Digha (West Bengal) at 1330 IST of 20th May. To cross West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts between Digha (west Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) close to Sunderbans. Landfall process to commence from today late afternoon (4pm onwards). pic.twitter.com/msHC1qIzue
'DG NDRF: 'During Fani We Did Phenomenal Job' | DG NDRF told News18: "Post-event management is crucial, during FANI we did a phenomenal job. We had stayed back for restoration services, this time too we will stay back as long as we can. We will be there for recovery work and follow a perfect template for state and central coordination."
May 20, 2020 2:40 pm (IST)
DG NDRF to News18 on Cyclone Amphan | DG NDRF told News18 today:
◕ "Constant monitoring required as there is a high possibility of damage."
◕ "No one expected to deal with a super cyclone during a super pandemic, so this is something new to learn from. We will be practicing social distancing protocol to maintain hygiene, our boys on the ground are doing a good job."
◕ "Not sure if this could lead to Covid-19 spread, only doctors and scientists can predict it."
◕ "More than 5 lakh people have been evacuated from West Bengal and Odisha, it could be more than 6 lakh by the time of landfall."
May 20, 2020 2:36 pm (IST)
DG NDRF to News18 on Cyclone Amphan | DG NDRF told News18 today:
◕ "As of now the cyclone is maintaining its trajectory."
◕ "The cyclone is as of now taking a curvature from the Odisha coast, heading for West Bengal."
◕ "It is a slow moving cyclone but it is gaining speed, the impact could happen between 3:30 to 4:30 pm."
◕ "The slow speed means more rains, and the situation could prevail for over 24 hours."
May 20, 2020 2:22 pm (IST)
Current readings of wind speed and rainfall at South 24 Parganas in West Bengal in the wake of cyclone Amphan.
May 20, 2020 2:17 pm (IST)
Woman Delivers Baby in Fire Service Vehicle as Cyclone 'Amphan' Pounds Odisha | A woman gave birth to a girl inside a fire service vehicle in Odisha's Kendrapara district today amid the raging cyclone 'Amphan', an official said. Both the mother and the newborn are healthy and have been shifted to Mahakalpada government-run community health centre in the district, Deputy Fire Officer P K Dash said.
May 20, 2020 2:14 pm (IST)
As super cyclone Amphan hits Kendrapara in Odisha, distressed people are being kept and served food in the multipurpose cyclone shelter.
A police officer moves a barricade to block a road leading to a flyover in Kolkata on Wednesday. (Reuters)
Bangladesh reported its first death as one of the fiercest cyclones in decades roared towards the country and eastern India, with forecasts of a potentially devastating and deadly storm surge. Authorities have scrambled to evacuate low lying areas in Amphan's projected trail of destruction, only the second "super cyclone" to form over the Bay of Bengal since records began.
The Indian met office warned of possible flying objects, "extensive" damage to communications and power lines, and trees being ripped out of the ground by the wind. Kolkata was battered by heavy rain and the muddy Hooghly river was rising under dark skies, while in the coastal resort of Digha, large waves were pounding the shore.
The 'Super Cyclone Amphan' was about 95 km from south-southeast of Digha, the Meteorological (MeT) Department said. The storm is expected to cross West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts between Digha and Hatiya Islands, close to Sunderbans. The IMD said that the cyclone is expected to make landfall at 4pm.
Sanjib Bandyopadhyay, deputy director-general of IMD Kolkata, said that the cyclone is likely to retain its intensity till tomorrow (May 21). "Cyclone Amphan lies 177km south southeast of Digha. After landfall, it is likely to move north, northeast close to Kolkata. At the time of crossing coast, wind speed to be around 155-165kmph," he added.
The Kolkata airport authority today said that all flight operations from Bengal's capital have been suspended till 5am tomorrow, including the special planes that were deployed to bring back Indians stranded abroad due to Covid-19. Issuing 'red alert' in various districts, the West Bengal government has advised people to remain indoors and asked all traders in Kolkata and adjacent South Bengal districts to keep shops closed.
Heavy rains and gusts of wind were witnessed in parts of Odisha and West Bengal today as 'Super Cyclone Amphan', which is likely to make landfall near Sundarbans moved nearer to the coast. The cyclone has now weakened into an extremely severe cyclonic storm and is set to arrive in Bengal, Bangladesh and Odisha by afternoon or evening, the Meteorological (MeT) Department said. It had on Tuesday issued an "orange message" for West Bengal and warned of extensive damage in Kolkata, Hooghly, Howrah, South and North 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts.
As cyclone "Amphan" hurtled towards the coast, heavy downpour coupled with high velocity winds pounded coastal Odisha, uprooting trees and flattening fragile structures, officials said on Wednesday.
More than 1.25 lakh people have so far been evacuated from low-lying coastal areas and the process of evacuation was still underway in some places like Balasore on Wednesday morning, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), P K Jena, said.
Intense rainfall was recorded in several areas of Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Ganjam, Ganjam, Bhadrak and Balasore districts since Tuesday, officials said. The extremely severe cyclonic storm lay about 120 km east-southeast of Paradip in Odisha, 200 km south of Digha (West Bengal) and 360 km southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), said H R Biswas, the Director of the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar.
The current intensity of wind speed near the centre of the system stood at 170 to 180 kmph, while the wind velocity near Paradip was 102 kmph. Near Chandbali the wind speed was 74 kmph, he said.
It is likely to move north-northeastwards across northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal Bangladesh coasts between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) close to Sunderbans during evening hours of Wednesday, with a maximum sustained wind speed of 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph. The system is now being continuously tracked by the Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) at Vishakhapatnam, Paradip and Gopalpur, he said.
Jena said Paradip recorded 214 mm of rainfall since Tuesday, while it was 87 mm in Puri, 70.5 mm in Chandbali, 58.5 mm in Balasore and 50 mm in Bhubaneswar as heavy downpour battered many parts of coastal Odisha.
People living in thatched, mud and 'kucha' structures are being persuaded to move to the cyclone shelters for their safety, he said, adding that many people were initially reluctant to shift in view of COVID-19 scare.
While a thorough assessment of damage caused by the cyclone will be made, there are reports of many trees being uprooted from different areas including Erasama and Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district.
Many betel vines have also been damaged in Dhinkia area of Jagatsinghpur district, the SRC said, adding response teams have been deployed in all the coastal districts to ensure quick restoration of power and road communication wherever they suffer damage.
The impact of Amphan will remain in the state till the afternoon, he said, adding that the wind speed in some places is expected to reach 100 kmph to 110 kmph gusting to 125 kmph in northern coastal parts of Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts during the period.
A report from Bhadrak district said many trees and electric poles were uprooted in the district under the impact of gusty winds and heavy downpour, blocking roads in several areas. Heavy downpour accompanied by gusty wind also lashed Kendrapara where district administration has evacuated 38,000 people from vulnerable seaside pockets to the safety of multi-purpose cyclone shelter buildings.
Reports of trees and electric poles being uprooted and 'kutcha ' houses being blown away are coming in from various parts of the district. However, there has been no major damage to life and property so far. "We have evacuated vulnerable people to maintain zero-causality," said Kendrapara Collector Samath Verma.
"The wind speed is picking up. The trees have got uprooted...However, we are feeling safe inside the cyclone shelter building. However, it is jam- packed. As a result social distancing to contain the spread of coronavirus is not being maintained here", said Pradyot Giri, who has taken shelter at Bagagahana multi-purpose building in Rajnagar tehsil.
Amphan is considered to be the second major cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal after the Super Cyclone of 1999 which had claimed around 10,000 lives and inflicted large scale devastation in Odisha.
The cyclone comes a year after Fani barreled through vast parts of Odisha on May 3, claiming at least 64 lives and destroying power, telecom and other vital infrastructure.
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