Rough sea in the Bay of Bengal ahead of Cyclone Yaas landfall, at Digha in East Midnapore district, Tuesday, May 25, 2021. (PTI)Over 11 lakh people have been evacuated from vulnerable areas in Orissa and West Bengal as very severe cyclonic storm Yaas approaches the coast and is expected to make landfall near Dhamra Port in Bhadrak district early on Wednesday morning.
While West Bengal has evacuated over nine lakh people to safe shelters, the Odisha government, on the other hand, said it has moved over 2 lakh people from vulnerable areas in coastal districts to safety. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has also asked Collectors of three north coastal districts –Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulamto– to be on a high alert.
In its latest release, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the storm has intensified into a ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ category. The IMD has also issued a red-coded warning alert to the Odisha and West Bengal coasts.
As per the latest update by the MeT department, the storm is about 160 km southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 250 km south-southeast of Balasore (Odisha), 240 km south-southeast of Digha (West Bengal) and 230 km south of Sagar Islands (West Bengal).
NDRF team announce cyclone related alerts, ahead of landfall of Cyclone 'Yaas', in Howrah district, Sunday, May 23, 2021. (PTI Photo)
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has earmarked its highest-ever number of teams for deployment in Odisha and West Bengal to undertake relief and rescue operations during cyclone Yaas, its chief S N Pradhan said on Tuesday.
The federal contingency force has committed a total of 113 teams for deployment in five states and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands which are expected to be affected by the cyclone brewing in the Bay of Bengal.
As 'severe cyclonic' storm Yaas approaches coast, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday asked officials to take all possible steps to protect human lives.
"Every life is precious, thus all possible steps should be taken to protect life," the Odisha chief minister was quoted as saying.
Patnaik made the remarks during a meeting to take stock of the cyclone situation in the state which has already started impacting lives across the coastal districts as heavy rain pounced with blowing of wind at a speed of about 60 kmph.
At least two people were electrocuted to death and around 80 houses were partly damage after a storm, which the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described as a "tornado", hit Hooghly and North 2 Parganas districts on Tuesday.
The natural event struck hours before cyclone Yaas has to make landfall near Dhamra Port in Odisha's Bhadrak district early on Wednesday, in the wake of which the Bengal government has evacuated over nine lakh people to safe shelters.
"This was unexpected... the tornado wreaked havoc in Chinsurah, partly damaging 40 houses. Two persons were also electrocuted to death," she was quoted as saying by PTI.
Cyclone Yaas has intensified into a 'very severe cyclonic storm' on Tuesday evening, India Meteorological Department Director General M Mohapatra said.
The IMD has also issued a red-coded warning alert to the Odisha and West Bengal coasts.
Esri India, an Indian Geographic Information System (GIS) Software & Solutions provider, has created a map to follow Cyclone Yaas Live Path. The map is built with ArcGIS Online, Esri’s mapping and analytics system, and provides updates on the cyclone and relevant elements using inputs from IMD (Indian Meteorological Department).
These include weather, wind speed, number of households and population in the affected area. The map is consolidating the information from various authoritative feeds and sources for an integrated view of the movement and impact of Cyclone Yaas. Here's how you can track the Cyclone Yaas live.
Strong wind, heavy rain witnessed in Dhamra ahead of Cyclone Yaas. The cyclonic storm is expected to make landfall here tomorrow morning.
Cyclone Yaas is currently located about 200 km SouthEast of Paradip (Odisha), likely to move north-northwestward. In the next 6 hours, it will intensify into a severe cyclonic storm.
Ships at anchorage have been asked to move to a safer area in the sea while oil and gas installations will go into 'survival' mode as they brace for cyclone Yaas to make landfall at north Odisha-West Bengal coast.
"The oil and gas industry has made all arrangements to maintain adequate petroleum product, CNG, LPG stock at all the dealerships in the area expected to be hit by the cyclone," it said. "Disaster Control Room at Corporate and Divisional level has been set up by the oil and gas companies," an official statement said as reported by PTI.
Over 11 lakh people have been evacuated from vulnerable areas in Orissa and West Bengal as cyclonic storm Yaas approaches the coast and is expected to make landfall near Dhamra Port in Bhadrak district early on Wednesday morning.While West Bengal has evacuated over nine lakh people to safe shelters, the Odisha government, on the other hand, said it has moved over 2 lakh people from vulnerable areas in coastal districts to safety.
Inside a multipurpose cyclone centre in Padima village, East Midnapore district.
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Tuesday reviewed the preparedness for Cyclone Yaas in the state via video conferencing.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has asked Collectors of the three north coastal districts to be on a high alert in view of the 'Yaas' cyclone that is likely to cross the Bay of Bengal coast in neighbouring Odisha on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister conducted a videoconference with Collectors of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts and reviewed the situation. Chief Secretary Aditya Nath Das, who was camping in Srikakulam, briefed the CM on the prevailing situation in the three north coastal districts. (PTI)
"I have spoken to all the District Magistrates on Cyclone Yaas. I will stay in Nabanna tonight. I will monitor the situation closely," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said.
NDRF personnel alert people residing near coastal areas to evacuate ahead of Cyclone 'Yaas' landfall, at Digha in East Midnapore district, West Bengal.
As many as 8,09,830 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas in 14 districts of West Bengal, NDRF says
"We are preparing to combat the cyclone #Yaas. Trees are getting trimmed-off in co-operation with KMC," DCP South Kolkata tweeted.
Paradip Port Trust (PPT) suspended its operations from 2 pm on Tuesday as part of safety measures in view of the impending severe cyclone 'Yaas', which is likely to cross Odisha coast on May 26, an official said.
At least 12 vessels proceeded down to the deep sea so as to avoid the path of the storm, he said, adding that all the trucks, dumpers and large cargo handling equipment in the port area will be taken to a safe zone. (PTI)
A 91-year-old woman was shifted to a cyclone shelter by police officials in the Talchua area of Kendrapada district, Odisha earlier today in view of Cyclone Yaas.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Tuesday visited the control centre for Cyclone Yaas in Kolkata to inspect the preparations put in place.
Watch video of evacuation preparation in Odisha in view of Cyclone Yaas below:
Watch video of evacuation preparation in Odisha in view of Cyclone Yaas below: