Cyclone Amphan HIGHLIGHTS: Cabinet Secretary reviews preparedness; 37 NDRF teams in Bengal, Odisha

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba chaired a third meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) this afternoon to review the preparedness of agencies to deal with Super Cyclone Amphan. Gauba directed state authorities to ensure people in low lying areas were evacuated, and essential supplies were stocked up.

Cyclone Amphan is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, May 20. NDRF teams have been deployed to coastal areas of West Bengal to evacuate residents and help relief efforts. Watch our video from Kolkata:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken to both Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, assuring them of help if needed. Shah reportedly took stock of the situation in both states, a day before Cyclone Amphan is expected to make landfall. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee this morning, and assured her help to deal with Cyclone Amphan.

Home Minister Amit Shah speaks to CMs of West Bengal and Odisha over #CycloneAmphan. Reviews preparedness and assures all support from the Centre.
Cab Sec Rajiv Gauba to hold NCMC meeting at 12 noon. @IndianExpress

— Deeptiman Tiwary (@DeeptimanTY) May 19, 2020

Last night, Cyclone Amphan was captured by Japan’s Himawari-8 satellite as it headed for India and Bangladesh. Here's a look at it:

Very severe #TropicalCyclone #Amphan was caught this morning by @JMA_kishou's #Himawari8 satellite as it headed toward India and Bangladesh. At last report, it was the equivalent of a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane.

Read more about it: https://t.co/zGAgR6wJ1V#ImageOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/sKBxh5S9z9

— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) May 18, 2020

The Tripura government has directed District Magistrates to be prepared to handle any high impact of Cyclone Amphan. Despite the fact that IMD has not issued a warning for Tripura, the state government said "there is no certainty of movement of exact path of the cyclone", reported news agency ANI. 

Super Cyclone Amphan is expected to weaken into an ‘Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm’ within the next six hours, stated the India Meteorological Department (IMD). As an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm, the wind speed will continue to remain high and range between 200-210 kmph.

Adopting names for cyclones makes it easier for people to remember, as opposed to numbers and technical terms. Apart from the general public, it also helps the scientific community, the media, disaster managers etc. With a name, it is easy to identify individual cyclones, create awareness of its development, rapidly disseminate warnings to increased community preparedness and remove confusion where there are multiple cyclonic systems over a region. While picking names for tropical cyclones, there are rules that need to be followed. 

Residents in coastal districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Jaipur, Cuttack, Khurda and Nayagarh in Odisha have been asked to prepare for evacuation if necessary. The Center had Monday asked states to evacuate people from low lying areas in the cyclone path. Here are some pictures by news agency ANI from an evacuation centre in Odisha:

The West Bengal government is evacuating residents along coastal areas to cyclone centres. On May 20, the storm is likely to impact East Medinipur, South & North Parganas, Hoqrah, Hooghly and Kolkata. Teams of NDRF have been deployed in these regions to carry out relief work. They are equipped with boats, tree cutters, telecom equipment etc. Rescue teams of the Army, Navy, Indian Air Force and Coast Guard are also on standby.

Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is predicted in the coastal districts of West Bengal on May 19 and 20. Coastal districts of Odisha, meanwhile, can expect heavy to very heavy rainfall.

On Tuesday, coastal districts Medinipur, South and North 24 Parganas are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall at many places, and heavy falls at isolated places. In Odisha, very to very heavy rainfall is expected in Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj, while isolated heavy falls are expected in Khordha and Puri districts.

Super cyclone Amphan is expected to make a landfall along Digha and Hatiya islands in Bangladesh cutting through the Sundarbans in the afternoon or evening of Wednesday, May 20. At the time of landfall, it will remain an 'Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm', with wind speeds ranging between 165-175 kmph to to 195 kmph. 

Super cyclone Amphan is moving at the speed of 14 kmph. At 2.30 am, it lay 570 km south of Paradip, Odisha; 720 km south-southwest of Digha in West Bengal and 840 km south-southwest of Khepupara in Bangladesh. 

Cyclone Amphan is only the second super cyclone to form in the North Indian Ocean after the Odisha super cyclone of 1999. There have been two or three super cyclones in the past. The government, which is evacuating coastal residents, has said Cyclone Amphan has the potential to cause extensive damage like Cyclone Fani, which hit India at this time last year.

Good morning. We are tracking Cyclone Amphan, a super cyclone off the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal in the Bay of Bengal. The super cyclone was moving at a speed of 14 kmph. At 2.30 am, it lay 570 km south of Paradip, Odisha; 720 km south-southwest of Digha in West Bengal and 840 km south-southwest of Khepupara in Bangladesh.

NDRF in vulnerable villages around Dhamra. (Twitter/@gyana_r_das)

The SUPER CYCLONE ‘AMPHAN’ over west-central Bay of Bengal, lay centered at 1730 hrs IST of today, the 18 th May, 2020 over west-central Bay of Bengal near latitude 14.0°N and longitude 86.3 °E, about 700 km nearly south of Paradip (Odisha). pic.twitter.com/Y9Kte4hHc1

— India Met. Dept. (@Indiametdept) May 18, 2020

Cyclone Amphan, which turned into a "super cyclonic storm" on Monday and is expected to make landfall on May 20, is being taken seriously as this is only the second such severe cyclone that would hit India after 1999, NDRF chief S N Pradhan said. It has the potential to cause extensive damage like 'Fani' in the coastal districts of West Bengal when it finally makes the landfall on Wednesday, the government said.

To take a stock of the measures being taken to prevent major damage by the cyclone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting and reviewed the response preparedness and evacuation plan presented by NDRF, said PMO. During presentation by National Disaster Response Force, DG NDRF apprised the prime minister of the precautionary initiatives they took so far: 25 NDRF teams have been deployed on the ground while 12 others were ready in reserve. Additional 24 NDRF teams were also on standby in different parts of the country.

Met dept warned of storm surge of 4-6 meter height above astronomical tide, will inundate low lying coastal areas of WB during landfall. Cyclonic storm also likely to impact North Odisha coastal districts including Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Balasore districts, said government. (PTI)

Cyclone "Amphan" has developed into a super cyclone in the Bay of Bengal on Monday and has the potential to cause extensive damage in the coastal districts of West Bengal when it makes landfall on Wednesday, the government said. According to a PTI reports, the cyclone is expected to make landfall on the West Bengal coast in the afternoon of May 20 as an extremely severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds ranging up to 195 kmph. The cyclone has the potential to cause extensive damage in the coastal districts of West Bengal, an official statement said.

'Amphan', categorised as a super cyclone, is expected to make landfall on May 20 and it is being taken seriously as this is only the second time that such a severe cyclone will hit India after 1999, NDRF chief S N Pradhan said on Monday. Pradhan said 'Amphan' will be an extremely severe cyclonic storm, a notch below the 'super cyclone' category, when it makes landfall.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) chief said the coming cyclone is a "serious" one as it is only the second time after 1999 in Odisha that a storm hitting the country's coast has been categorised as a 'super cyclone'. The 1999 super cyclone was very deadly and it is expected that Amphan upon landfall will be like the 'Fani' cyclone that hit the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh coasts in May 2019. (PTI)

Cyclone Amphan (pronounced as Um-Pun) is only the second Super Cyclone to be formed in the Bay of Bengal in the last two decades said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general, India Meteorological Department (IMD). Mohapatra was speaking about tropical storms during a Facebook live session organised by Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) on Monday. "Super cyclone Amphan intensified very rapidly during the 24 hours between evening of May 17 and May 18. Though there have been two or three Super Cylones in the past, Super Cyclone Amphan is only the second after the Odisha Super Cyclone of 1999 to form in the North Indian Ocean. The Odhisha Super Cyclone remains the strongest cyclone in the history of cyclones formed in this region," said Mohapatra. — A report by Anjali Marar

With super cyclone Amphan likely to hit West Bengal on May 20, the Mamata Banerjee government has started evacuated locals from coastal areas and put government officials on 24x7 work mode. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has put district magistrates of South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and East Midnapore, which are likely to witness maximum damage, on high alert and dispatched disaster management teams to coastal areas. Addressing media, Banerjee also expressed her displeasure after the resident commissioner on West Bengal in Delhi was called for meeting with Union Home Minister on cyclone situation without intimating her government.

During presentation by National Disaster Response Force, DG NDRF informed PM Modi that 25 NDRF teams have been deployed on the ground while 12 others were ready in reserve. Additional 24 NDRF teams were also on standby in different parts of the country.

PM Modi tweets after his review meeting. "Reviewed the preparedness regarding the situation due to cyclone ‘Amphan.’ The response measures as well as evacuation plans were discussed. I pray for everyone's safety and assure all possible support from the Central Government."

Reviewed the preparedness regarding the situation due to cyclone ‘Amphan.’ The response measures as well as evacuation plans were discussed. I pray for everyone's safety and assure all possible support from the Central Government. https://t.co/VJGCRE7jBO

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 18, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening chared a high-level meeting and reviewed the response preparedness and evacuation plan presented by NDRF, said PMO.

In its latest advisory, IMD marked Bengal coasts as areas likely to be hit by thundersstorm with lightning in next 24 hours. Odisha coasts are likely to get 5.1 cm to 10 cm rainfall.

Cyclone Amphan is likely to move north-northeastwards and move past the northwest Bay of Bengal, and cross the West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts between Digha and the Hatia island as a very severe cyclonic storm.

In a measure to effectively tackle Cyclone Amphan, HAM radio team has been deployed at 24 Parganas (South) in West Bengal. They have set up radio (amateur radio) communication centres in islands in Sunderbans and other coastal areas.

In a measure to effectively tackle Cyclone Amphan, HAM radio team has been deployed at 24 Parganas (South) in West Bengal. They have set up radio (amateur radio) communication centres in islands in Sunderbans and other coastal areas. pic.twitter.com/bxzsdnPfXL

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) May 18, 2020

Several parts of Kerala are experiencing heavy rains since last night due to the impact of the super cyclone Amphan, officials said on Monday. Widespread damage was reported from Vaikom taluk in Kottayam district after strong winds alongwith heavy rains lashed the coastal town since Sunday night. Several trees got uprooted and fell on the electric lines and roads in Vaikom town disrupting power supply and movement of vehicles.

'Amphan' (pronounced UM-PN) that had turned into an extremely severe cyclonic storm picked up more strength over the Bay of Bengal while moving towards the coast. It has now intensified further into a 'super cyclonic storm', the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. It is likely to move north-northeastwards and move past the northwest Bay of Bengal, and cross the West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts between Digha and the Hatia island as a very severe cyclonic storm, the department said. This has raised possibility of heavy rains and high-velocity winds in coastal Odisha and the state government has initiated the process of evacuating people from the vulnerable areas.

Cyclone Amphan turned into a “super cyclonic storm” on Monday and is likely hit the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh on Wednesday, IMD said. The storm turned ‘extremely severe’ over the Bay of Bengal at 2.30 am today, the Indian Meterological Department (IMD) had earlier said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a high-level meeting to review the preparedness.

#CycloneUpdate

Super Cyclone #CycloneAmphan over west-central and adjoining parts of South #BayOfBengal; #CycloneWarning for #WestBengal and north #Odisha coasts: ORANGE MESSAGE.#Cyclone

Source :: @IMDWeather pic.twitter.com/1I1fZkXtI7

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) May 18, 2020

A ham radio team deployed at South 24 Parganas in West Bengal.

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 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)Director General, said the force is fully geared with all the equipment and paraphernalia to face the "developing situation which the Indian Meteorological Department has said will turn into a very severe cyclonic storm by this evening and continue to be so for sometime". "A total of 37 teams have been deployed by NDRF in West Bengal and Odisha, out of which 20 teams are actively deployed and 17 are on standby in the two states," Pradhan said in a video message.

In the wake of the cyclonic storm, the Odisha government is preparing for a possible evacuation of 11 lakh people residing in vulnerable areas. Coastal Odisha is likely to experience light to moderate rainfall in many places from the evening of May 18, with heavy rain in some places in coastal Odisha districts like Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara.

The MeT department, which has issued an 'orange' warning for West Bengal, said Cyclone Amphan is likely to cross the West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts between Digha and Hatiya Islands in the afternoon or evening of May 20 as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 155 to 165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph before losing some steam ahead of landfall. The high-velocity winds may cause extensive damage to mud houses and partial damage to 'pucca' structures, it said.

The Tamil Nadu government today said that the state will not face the impact of the cyclone but it was constantly monitoring the situation along with IMD. Revenue Minister R B Udhayakumar said satellite images of the storm have been released. "It has come to be known that there will be no impact of this storm on Tamil Nadu. However, we, along with the IMD are constantly monitoring regarding the cyclone," he was quoted as saying in a release. Constant updates will be shared with the public in this connection, he added.

Source: IMD

On Saturday, the National Crisis Management Committee reviewed the preparedness for the impending cyclone and directed immediate assistance to West Bengal and Odisha, which are likely to be affected by the storm. Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba also held a meeting to take stock of the preparations for the cyclone. As many as 17 teams of National Disaster Response Force have been deployed in the two states.

In view of the cyclone alert, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a high-level meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs and National Disaster Management Authority at 4 pm today.

PM @narendramodi to chair a high-level meeting with MHA and @ndmaindia today at 4 pm to review the situation arising out of cyclone in various parts of the country. https://t.co/BdEFOBCRRz

— Prasar Bharati News Services (@PBNS_India) May 18, 2020

IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that northern parts of Odisha are likely to be more affected due to the cyclone. Coastal districts like Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore are likely to experience heavy rainfall accompanied by high-velocity winds, particularly on May 19 and 20, he said.

The weather body also warned that the high-velocity winds may cause extensive damage to mud houses and partial damage to 'pucca' structures. The winds may also lead to bending or uprooting of power and communication poles, minor disruption of railways and may affect overhead power lines and signalling systems and also cause widespread damage to standing crops, plantations, orchards, the IMD said.

Speaking to news agency ANI, IMD General Director Mrutyunjaya Mohapatra said, "Cyclone Amphan in the Bay of Bengal intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm at 2:30 am today. It is expected to further intensify into a super cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours. It will move towards north-northeast direction and cross Digha (West Bengal)-Hatiya island (Bangladesh) on the afternoon/evening of 20th May with a wind speed of 155-165 kmph."

West Bengal Home Secretary Alapan Bandopdhyay said the entire state machinery was prepared to deal with the situation. Disaster management teams are being sent to cyclone shelters in coastal areas, and other places likely to be affected. The home secretary said National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were also available for rescue and relief operations.

“Cyclone Amphan is likely to cross between Sagar Islands in West Bengal and Hatiya islands in Bangladesh between afternoon and evening of May 20 as a very severe cyclonic storm. It will bring heavy to very heavy rainfall in coastal Odisha and West Bengal from May 19 onwards. Sea condition will be very high to phenomenal over north Bay of Bengal on May 19 and 20,” said regional Met Director GK Das.

Cyclone Amphan is likely to bring heavy rainfall, coupled with strong wind, in coastal Odisha and West Bengal from Monday. In Bengal, the rain is expected to lash the districts of North and South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Howrah, and Hooghly.

Cyclone Amphan is expected to cross the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh on May 20. (Source: IMD)

“Cyclone Amphan is very likely to move north-northeastwards and move fast across northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts between Digha and Hatiya Islands during 09:00-12:00 pm of 20th May, 2020, as a very severe cyclonic storm,” the IMD said it is latest bulletin on Monday.

Personnel of the NDRF were deployed on Sunday in West Bengal and Odisha, which said it was ready to undertake massive evacuation of 11 lakh people likely to be severely hit by the cyclone 'Amphan', officials said. The cyclone, according to an IMD report early Sunday, is developing into a severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal and can potentially become a very severe cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours, S N Pradhan, the chief of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said in New Delhi.

"The trajectory is mostly towards West Bengal, Sagar Islands and probably towards Bangladesh.... But we have to watch the trajectory very closely. NDRF has deployed the teams well in advance. They are either deployed or moving towards the destination," he said. As it rolls in towards the Indian shores ominously, the cyclone is likely to unleash heavy rain and high-velocity winds in large swathes of coastal Odisha and West Bengal. It is likely to cross West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts between Sagar Islands in West Bengal and Hatiya islands in Bangladesh between afternoon and evening of May 20 as a very severe cyclonic storm, Regional MeT Director in Kolkata G K Das said.

Odisha, which has been ravaged by a string of cyclones over the last few years, including the cyclone Fani last year, has made arrangements to shift 11 lakh people from vulnerable areas, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Jena said. Twelve coastal districts--Ganjam, Gajapti, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khurda and Nayagarh-- are on high alert. He said of the 809 cyclone shelters in the 12 coastal districts, 242 are currently being used as temporary medical camps for the returnees from different states amid the COVID-19 lockdown. (PTI)

As per the latest IMD bulletin, the cyclone Amphan has intensified into a 'very severe cyclonic storm' and lay centered over central parts of south Bay of Bengal about 960 km south of Paradip in Odisha, 1110 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal) and 1230 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh). It is very likely to intensify further into an 'extremely severe cyclonic storm' during the next 24 hours.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into south Bay of Bengal during next 24 hours, to central Bay of Bengal between May 17 and 18 and into north Bay of Bengal during May 18 to 20. Fishermen are also advised not to venture into north Bay of Bengal along and off North Odisha, West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh coasts during May 18 to 20.

The severe cyclonic storm ‘Amphan’ lay centred over central parts of south Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood at 11.30 on Sunday near latitude 11.5°N and longitude 86.0°E, and about 980 km south of Paradip (Odisha), 1130 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal) and 1250 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its latest bulletin.

Light to moderate rainfall at most places is very likely over Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the next 24 hours, the IMD bulletin said. Coastal Odisha, meanwhile, is likely to experience light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy falls at isolated places from 18th evening. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into south Bay of Bengal during next 24 hours, to central Bay of Bengal during 17th to 18th and into north Bay of Bengal during 18th to 20th.

The cyclonic storm 'Amphan', which is currently moving over Southeast Bay of Bengal, is likely to turn into a very severe storm and make a landfall on West Bengal coast on May 20, the home ministry said on Sunday. The cyclonic storm 'Amphan' (pronounced as UM-PUN) is moving over Southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood and has been turning north-northwestwards with a speed of 6 kmph over past six hours, it said. It has intensified slightly and lay centred over the same region at 0530 hrs IST on Sunday, a home ministry official said, quoting an India Meteorological Department bulletin. (PTI)

The position of Amphan today morning. (Source: IMD)

According to the latest bulletin released by IMD, Sea condition will remain rough over southwest and adjoining central Bay of Bengal during next 24 hours It will become phenomenal over southern parts of central Bay of Bengal from tonight, over northern parts of central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Bay of Bengal on 19th May and over north Bay of Bengal on 20th May 2020. At 5.30 am today, the cyclone lay centred about 990 km south of Paradip and 1140 km south-southwest of Digha, said IMD.

According to IMD, light to moderate rainfall at most places is very likely over Andaman & Nicobar Islands during next 24 hours. Rainfall (over Odisha & Gangetic West Bengal) Coastal Odisha is likely to experience light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy falls at isolated places from May 18 evening. Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places on May 19 and isolated heavy rainfall over north coastal Odisha on May 20. Coastal districts of Gangetic West Bengal are likely to experience light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy falls at isolated places on May 19. Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and extremely heavy falls at isolated places likely over coastal districts of West Bengal on May 20.

Cyclone Amphan is expected to bring squally winds over eastcentral and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal. The windspeed to aggravate as follows:

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recently released a list of 169 names of future tropical cyclones that would emerge in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. Cyclones that form in every ocean basin across the world are named by the regional specialised meteorological centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs). There are six RSMCs in the world, including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and five TCWCs. So, how are tropical cyclones named? Know here