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:
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has earmarked its highest-ever number of teams for deployment in Odisha and West Bengal as part of its preparations for cyclone Yaas, a senior officer said on Tuesday.
The federal contingency force has committed a total of 112 teams for deployment in five states and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are expected to be affected by the cyclone developing in the Bay of Bengal. Out of these, the highest the number of 52 teams are designated for Odisha followed by 45 teams for West Bengal. The rest of the teams are being stationed in states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and the UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
NDRF Director General S N Pradhan said in a tweet that this was this was the "highest ever" commitment of its teams in the two states of Odisha and West Bengal.
Below is a satellite image provided by NASA shows Cyclone Yaas approaching India's eastern coast, taken on Monday, May, 24, 2021. Yaas is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, and could pack sustained winds of up to 165 kilometers per hour (102 miles per hour), the India Meteorological Department said.
People living in low-lying and vulnerable areas were moved to the multipurpose cyclone shelter at Digha, East Midnapore, West Bengal news agency ANI reported.
2nd Battalion-NDRF Assistant Commandant at Digha said, "Our teams are continuously engaged in the evacuation of people from vulnerable areas. Medical teams will also be visiting the cyclone shelters."
The sea at Paradip turned rough ahead of cyclone Yass landfall tomorrow. Watch the video here:
Whenever a cyclone hits a country, the first thing that strikes the minds of most is what these names mean.
When Tauktae hit the western coast of India earlier this week, people were seen searching for the origin of the name. The cyclone, which was named by Myanmar, means “gecko” — a highly vocal lizard — in Burmese dialect.
Similarly, Yaas, the cyclonic storm that is expected to hit the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal next week, has been named by Oman. Yaas refers to a tree that has a good fragrance and in English, the word is similar to Jasmine.
In 2000, a group of nations called WMO/ESCAP (World Meteorological Organisation/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific), which comprised Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand, decided to start naming cyclones in the region. After each country sent in suggestions, the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) finalised the list. Read on to know how cyclones are named.
Here is a list of 169 cyclone names released by IMD in April 2020 were provided by these countries — 13 suggestions from each of the 13 countries.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Tuesday appealed party workers to provide assistance and ensure safety of those affected by Cyclone Yaas.
"#CycloneYaas is moving towards Bengal and Odisha from the Bay of Bengal. I appeal to Congress workers to provide all assistance ensuring safety of those affected. Please follow all precautionary measures," he said in a tweet.
IMD Bhubaneshwar Tuesday said that a red alert (extremely heavy rainfall) warning has been issued for Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore for today and tomorrow, news agency ANI reported.
An orange alert (heavy to very heavy rainfall) warning has been issued in Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khorda and Puri for today.
"We are expecting wind speeds of 150-160 kmph gusting 180 kmph over Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore tomorrow as landfall is expected by noon. We have issued the highest danger warning for Dhamra and Paradip ports," an official from IMD Bhubaneshwar said.
In view of the expected landfall of cyclone Yaas at Balasore coast, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday directed the state's home minister to reach Balasore today and remain there to monitor the situation, news agency ANI reported.
"At a time when we are fighting with COVID19, we have yet another challenge in the form of #CycloneYaas. The priority is to save every life, I request all those in cyclone prone areas to move to shelter homes & cooperate with administration," Patnaik had said yesterday.
Cyclonic Storm is likely to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar Island around Balasore on May 26 as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.
Cyclonic Storm is likely to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar Island around Balasore on May 26 as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Yaas’ lay centred about 320 km South-Southeast of Paradip at 0530 hrs IST on Tuesday, 430 km South-Southeast of Balasore, likely to move north-northwestwards, to cross north Odisha coast during noon of 26th May as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.
Rain lashed Digha, West Bengal as cyclone Yaas is expected to cross West Bengal-Odisha coast tomorrow. NDRF DG SN Pradhan Tuesday said 10 more teams have been deployed in West Bengal. A total of 45 teams have been sent to the state so far, he added.
Below is a video of the rain brought about by cyclone Yaas in Digha on Tuesday:
Odisha's Bhubaneswar Tuesday received rainfall due to cyclone Yaas. Below are some pictures.
NDRF evacuated people were evacuated in West Bengal's East Medinipur district, Digha yesterday, ahead of Cyclone Yaas. Watch the video here:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Tuesday said cyclonic storm Yaas is very likely to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar Island around Balasore, during noon of 26th May as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.
On foot and on cycles, 60 families began their journey from Magarkanda village of Kendrapara’s Rajnagar block on Monday morning to reach a temporary shelter in a school building seven kilometres away in view of cyclone Yaas — such evacuations not new to their experience but a raging pandemic adding to fears in several areas this time. Kendrapara is among the five districts of Odisha put on high alert, besides Balasore, Jagatsinhpur, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj, after officials confirmed that Yaas is likely to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm ahead of its landfall on May 26. Officials said that the total population to be evacuated will most likely be around 1.4 lakh. Read More
North coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh are bracing for severe cyclonic storm Yaas, which is predicted to hit the eastern coast on May 25-26, and supply of liquid medical oxygen to the state may be hit.
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy while speaking to Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a video conference said that there is a possibility of a slight impact on Northern AP and the coastal areas, considering the cyclone’s movements. Read More
The India Meteorological Department has said Cyclone Yaas will 'cross between Paradip and Sagar Island around Balasore, during noon of 26th May' as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.
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As Cyclone Yaas looms closer to the eastern shores of India, states like Odisha, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh have sprung into action to ensure minimum loss of life and property.
With an aim to tackle the cyclone amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Pradeep Kumar Jena, Special Relief Commissioner of Odisha, has stated that arrangements have been made for a smooth evacuation following Covid norms.
“Oxygen plants are being given alternative power backups. Adequate buffer oxygen stocks are being made available to Covid hospitals in the cyclone-prone area,” he said.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also directed its rescue teams to ensure that the country’s major medical oxygen generation plants based in Odisha and West Bengal are “running and alive” during Cyclone Yaas, news agency PTI reported citing a senior official. More details here.
The Odisha government on Monday decided to suspend the Covid-19 testing, vaccination and door-to-door survey work in the three cyclone-prone districts. The three districts are Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj. They fall in the red zones having more than 1000 active coronavirus cases, PTI reported.
Heavy rain in Odisha's Kendrapada ahead of cyclone Yaas
On Monday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee pointed out that the Centre, despite promising all forms of assistance to combat Cyclone Yaas, has agreed to provide an advance of only Rs 400 crore, while "smaller states" such as Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are being given Rs 600 crore each.
Banerjee, following a meeting of Home Minister Amit Shah with chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Bengal and the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, said her state, which is more densely populated, was facing "repeated discrimination". (PTI)
The Kolkata Port will suspend all shipping movements from May 25 in the wake of cyclone Yaas, a senior official said on Monday.
Kolkata Port Trust chairman Vinit Kumar said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure.
Entering of ships will be halted from Tuesday morning, while cargo handling will be stooped at 2 pm and workers will be shifted to safety, he said.
The movement of goods-carrying vehicles on the port roads will be halted at 6 pm. (PTI)
As per the latest bulletin by the IMD, cyclonic storm Yass is moving north-northwestwards with a speed of about 07 kmph for the past 6 hours, and currently lay centred over the East-central Bay of Bengal near latitude 16.8°N and longitude 89.5°E, about 670 km north-northwest of Port Blair (Andaman Islands), 490 km south-southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 590 km south-southeast of Balasore (Odisha) and 580 km south-southeast of Digha (West Bengal).
A satellite image shows the formation of a low-pressure area between 3:30 pm and 3:56 pm as it develops into Cyclone Yaas and approaches the Indian Eastern Coast. (Image courtesy: PTI)
The Odisha government rushed a large contingent of rescue and relief teams to Balasore district bordering West Bengal on Monday where the very severe cyclonic storm Yaas is likely to make landfall, PTI reported.
A massive evacuation drive will be launched in all low-lying areas and vulnerable storm-surge pockets, following the IMD predicting a tidal surge of 2-4.5 meters during the landfall of Yaas, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena told reporters.
"The process of evacuation has already begun in the state and would be completed by Tuesday afternoon. The government is determined to ensure zero casualties in the cyclone," he said.
As Cyclone Yaas hit the eastern shore on Monday, Home Minister Amit Shah held a review meeting with chief ministers of the states concerned and representatives of Central ministries to take stock of the situation. Shah not only emphasised on evacuation of people from vulnerable areas but also asked states to ensure their Covid infrastructure was not disrupted. Shah “specifically reviewed and reiterated to the states/UT administrations to make adequate power backup arrangements in all Covid-19 hospitals, labs, vaccine cold chains and other medical facilities,” a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs said. More details here.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said collective efforts of all the stakeholders to deal with cyclone Yaas can ensure zero casualties.
He said central and state governments are working together to ensure orderly planning, relief and rehabilitation measures post-cyclone.
"We must ensure a completely zero casualty situation and the collective efforts of governments and industry participants can actually make that happen," Goyal said while interacting with industry representatives on preparedness for cyclone Yaas. (PTI)
Here's what you need to do during a cyclone warning
* Keep a safety kit including documents ready
* When asked to evacuate, move to designated cyclone shelter with the safety kit
"Arrangements made for a smooth evacuation following Covid norms. Oxygen plants are given alternate power backups. Adequate buffer oxygen stocks are being made available to Covid hospitals in the cyclone-prone area," Pradeep K Jena, Special Relief Commissioner told news agency ANI.
NDRF has directed its rescue teams to ensure that the country's major medical oxygen generation plants based in Odisha and West Bengal are "running and alive" during Cyclone Yaas that is developing in the Bay of Bengal, news agency PTI reported citing a senior official.
NDRF director general (DG) S N Pradhan said the force has earmarked a total of 149 teams for undertaking evacuation and rescue operations, of which 99 will be deployed on the ground and the remaining 50 will be available at its various bases across the country for quick airlift, if required.
Five NDRF teams arrivedat Biju Patnaik International Airport on Monday. Below are some pictures of the NDRF team. (ANI)
Light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy falls is likely at isolated places on 24th May and heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places on 25th May in north coastal Andhra Pradesh.
Light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy falls has been predicted at isolated places over coastal Odisha on 24th, with heavy to very heavy rainfall in Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Khurda, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Keonjhargarh.
Heavy falls at isolated places in Puri, Khurda, Angul, Deogarh, Sundergarh on 26th May and heavy rainfall at isolated places in north interior Odisha on 27th May.
In West Bengal, light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall over Medinipur, South 24 Parganas and heavy rainfall at isolated places in Howrah, Hooghly & North 24 Parganas district on 25th. Extremely heavy rain at isolated places over Jhargram, Medinipur, South 24 Parganas & heavy to very heavy rain at few places in Purulia, Bankura, Bardhaman, Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata, North 24 Paraganas, Birbhum & heavy falls at places over Nadia, Murshidabad, Darjeeling on May 26.
Heavy to very heavy rain is likely at isolated places in Malda & Darjeeling, Dinajpur, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Sikkim & heavy rain at few places over Bankura, Purulia, Bardhaman, Birbhum & Murshidabad on 27th May.
Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy falls at isolated places in Jharkhand on 26th and 27th May and isolated heavy falls on 28th May.
In Bihar, light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy falls at isolated places on 26th and 27th May and isolated heavy falls on 28th May.
Assam and Meghalaya are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places on 26th and 27th May.
As Cyclone Yaas forms over Bay of Bengal, seven teams from the Pune headquartered 5th Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were airlifted by IAF’s transport aircraft to Bhuvneshwar, Odisha for further deployment in coastal districts.
These teams are equipped with boats, rescue equipment and the team members include engineering, paramedic, technical experts and also a dog squad. The configurations of these teams change as per the nature of emergency.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Monday said the cyclonic storm ‘Yaas’ over East-Central Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards with a speed of 02 kmph during past 6 hours, and lay centred at 0830 hrs IST of today, the 24th May, 2021 over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal near latitude 16.4°N and longitude 89.6°E, about 620 km north-northwest of Port Blair (Andaman Islands), 530 km south-southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 630 km south-southeast of Balasore (Odisha) and 620 km south-southeast of Digha (West Bengal).
It is very likely to move north-northwestwards, intensify further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours and into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during subsequent 24 hours. It would continue to move north-northwestwards, intensify further and reach Northwest Bay of Bengal near north Odisha and West Bengal coasts by 26th May early morning. It is very likely to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar islands around noon of 26th May as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.
NDRF DG SN Pradhan Monday said the agency has committed 99 teams across Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in view of cyclone Yaas.
NDRF DG SN Pradhan Monday said the agency has committed 99 teams across Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in view of cyclone Yaas.
The India Meteorological Department Monday said a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into cyclonic storm 'Yaas' and is likely to cross the Odisha-West Bengal coasts on May 26 after turning into a very severe cyclonic storm.
'Yaas' is likely to cross the Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar Islands around noon on May 26
as a very severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 155-165 kmph, Kolkata's Regional Meteorological Centre Deputy Director Sanjib Bandopadhyay said.
The system lays 540 km south-southeast of Paradip in Odisha and 630 km south-southeast of Digha in West Bengal on Monday morning and is very likely to move north-northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Tuesday and into a very severe cyclonic storm by Wednesday morning, the MeT Department said.
Paradeep Additional SP Monday said 60 teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force are being deployed in the State with equipment for rescue, relief & recovery, in view of cyclone Yaas.
"Fishermen have been asked not to venture into the sea. We'll try to ensure there is no casualty," he added.
60 teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force are being deployed in the State with equipment for rescue, relief & recovery. (ANI)
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that Cyclone Yaas (read as Yass) has developed on Monday morning over the east-central region of Bay of Bengal.
Named by Oman, Yaas is the first cyclonic storm to develop over the Bay of Bengal in 2021. It is expected to intensify and reach a ‘Very Severe’ cyclone category or higher, during the upcoming 36 to 48 hours. Yaas means a tree bearing fragrant flowers.