The impact of Cyclone Amphan on West Bengal has been worse than the coronavirus pandemic, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said this evening after the extremely severe cyclonic storm pounded Bengal, killing three people, damaging buildings and uprooting trees. Damages due to Amphan, she said, could be worth Rs 1 lakh crore.
Ms Banerjee, addressing a press conference in Kolkata, said three people have died, but that number may rise to 10 or 12. She said the North and South 24 Parganas districts were the worst hit and that Bengal "will have to re-build everything".
Kolkata and nearby areas are witnessing winds of over 100 kmph and pounding rain after Cyclone Amphan, one of the worst storms over the Bay of Bengal in years, made landfall this evening in West Bengal towards Sunderbans, a marshy region famous for its mangroves.
Three people have died and many buildings in Kolkata were damaged.
The eye of the cyclone, 30 km in diameter, has touched land, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrityunjay Mohapatra said. Over five lakh people have been taken to shelters in West Bengal and over one lakh in Odisha, the National Disaster Response Force (NRDF) chief said today in a press briefing
The storm had weakened from a super cyclone to an extremely severe cyclonic storm on Tuesday and triggered strong winds and rain in parts of Odisha and Bengal. This is the second pre-monsoon cyclone to hit India in two years and has been anticipated as one of the worst storm over Bay of Bengal in decades.
It has hit Bengal at a time when restrictions are in place due to coronavirus. On Tuesday, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) chief SN Pradhan told reporters they face the "double challenge" of the coronavirus pandemic and a natural disaster.
Forty teams of the NDRF have been deployed in West Bengal and Odisha to deal with any emergency situation, Mr Pradhan said, adding that Amphan is "a second disaster coming amid COVID-19 pandemic" and it needs continuous monitoring.
Here are the Highlights on Cyclone AMPHAN:
#WATCH West Bengal: Rooftop of a school in Howrah was blown away by strong winds earlier today. #CycloneAmphan pic.twitter.com/nJY0KhAC3Z
- ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2020
#WATCH: Strong winds and heavy rain damaged Police barricading at Howrah Bridge, earlier today. #CycloneAmphan #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/bSi923BXkn
- ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2020
Cyclone Amphan Impact Worse Than Coronavirus: Mamata BanerjeePower cuts reported in some areas of Kolkata following heavy rain and strong winds due to #Amphan https://t.co/cKF9j1aBPE
- ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2020
#BreakingNews | Atleast 3 dead as #CycloneAmphan batters West Bengal, houses damaged, trees uprooted. (Report by @Monideepa62) pic.twitter.com/oiSifqpW6n
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 20, 2020
Heavy rain lashes Kolkata as #CycloneAmphan crosses the city pic.twitter.com/2yb52KJXfG
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 20, 2020
#PressRelease :: Super #CycloneAmphan crossed #WestBengal - #Bangladesh coasts. #Cyclone Warning for West Bengal coasts: RED MESSAGE. pic.twitter.com/QwjO0cLbv3
- NDMA India (@ndmaindia) May 20, 2020
#WATCH West Bengal: Rainfall and heavy winds in North 24 Parganas as #CycloneAmphan made landfall. pic.twitter.com/noHLgqJhPX
- ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2020
Strong Winds, Stay Inside: Officials As Cyclone Amphan Heads For KolkataCyclone Amphan is likely to reach speeds up to 120 km per hour when it reaches Kolkata this evening, the weather office's chief said in a press briefing today. Over five lakh people have been taken to shelters in West Bengal and over one lakh in Odisha, the National Disaster Response Force (NRDF) chief said today in the same press briefing, where the Health Ministry's officials were also present." itemprop="description
Cyclone Amphan left a trail of destruction in Odisha as it triggered heavy downpour coupled with high-velocity winds while hurtling towards the West Bengal coast on Wednesday, uprooting trees and flattening fragile structures, officials said.
More than 1.41 lakh people living in low-lying areas and thatched and mud houses in the vulnerable coastal regions were evacuated and shifted to cyclone shelters, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), P K Jena said.
The evacuees were accommodated in 2,921 shelters where cooked food and other facilities were provided, he said, adding that the cyclone developed and moved as per the IMD forecast.
"It took exactly the path forecast by them. I must thank the IMD, particularly its Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, as their accurate predictions enabled us handle the situation ably," the SRC said.
As the cyclone passed along the Odisha coast, it unleashed intense rainfall in several areas of Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Ganjam, Bhadrak and Balasore districts since Tuesday.
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 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.
"Landfall process started at 2.30 PM with the entry of the front sector of the wall cloud region," he said.
The width of the wall cloud is around 120 kilometres and the diameter of the eye is about 40 kilometres. The rear side is about 120 kilometres and the entire process will be completed by 3-4 hours.
The situation related to Cyclone Amphan, which has started landfall, is fast transforming and a close watch is being kept, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director General S N Pradhan said.
He said all 20 teams present in Odisha have been deployed, leaving none in reserve, while in West Bengal 19 teams have been deployed, while two have been kept in reserve.
One team has been deployed in Kolkata, Pradhan told a press conference.
He said 24 teams are ready for air-lifting.
"The situation is fast-transforming. Our duty becomes even more now and after the cyclone. It is a long haul," he said, adding that the NDRF is keeping a close watch on cyclone Amphan.
"Odisha districts Bhadrak and Balasore will continue to have damaging impact for 2-3 more hours. After this Odisha will not have any damaging impact," said Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.
Heavy rainfall is expected in Kolkata today due to cyclone Amphan, said the weather department chief. "Tomorrow, there won't be much rainfall," he added.
"More than 5 Lakh people have been evacuated in West Bengal and 1,58,640 people in Odisha," said SN Pradhan, NDRF chief.
"The Landfall process has started. Our teams are in Begal and Odisha. 19 teams have been deployed in Bengal. Teams are also deployed in Kolkata," said NDRF chief SN Pradhan.
"Based on experiences during cyclone Fani, all the teams are equipped with tree cutters/pole cutters for post landfall restoration, if need arises," said SN Pradhan, NDRF chief.
#WATCH LIVE: NDRF, IMD and Health Ministry brief media on #COVID19 and #CycloneAmphan (May 20). https://t.co/j91MUxfyL4
- ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2020
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 weather office said.
The system is likely to move north-northeastwards after landfall and pass close to Kolkata in its eastern side causing extensive damage and flooding of low-lying areas of the city, the India Meteorological Department warned.
"The landfall process has commenced since 2:30 PM, will continue for about 4 hours. The forward sector of the wall cloud region is entering into land in West Bengal," according to a weather department official.
With #Landfall process of #CycloneAmphan about to begin, impact has already started.
- PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) May 20, 2020
Uprooted trees are being shifted by NDRF personnel at Digha in East Midnapur District of West Bengal
PC : PIB Kolkota pic.twitter.com/3YqCIXhRJC
Bangladesh reports first death from Cyclone Amphan, according to news agency AFP.
About 4.5 lakh people have been evacuated from vulnerable area in West Bengal and Odisha ahead of the landfall of cyclonic storm Amphan, NDRF chief S N Pradhan said on Wednesday.
Amphan, termed as an extremely severe cyclonic storm, is expected to make a landfall on Wednesday noon or evening at a coastal area between West Bengal and Bangladesh.
SUCS AMPHAN about 95 km south-southeast of Digha (West Bengal) at 1230 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/dbq9EOhSqm
- India Met. Dept. (@Indiametdept) May 20, 2020
West Bengal: Villagers and livestock in Jogeshganj, North 24 Paraganas being shifted to a shelter, as cyclone Amphan is expected to make a landfall today evening pic.twitter.com/792B2p8ld5
- ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2020
Extremely severe cyclone Amphan hurtled towards Indian shores on Wednesday, triggering downpour in coastal Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal, uprooting trees, flattening fragile dwellings and forcing evacuation of over four lakh people, officials said.
Despite losing its force a bit since Tuesday, the storm, which was categorised as super cyclone at one point of time, has left the two eastern states on edge as it hollered on its destructive path over the Bay of Bengal.
More than 1.25 lakh people have so far been evacuated from low-lying coastal areas of Odisha and the exercise is still under way in some places like Balasore, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Jena said in Bhubaneswar.
More than three lakh people were removed to safer places in West Bengal. Intense rainfall was recorded in several areas of Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Ganjam, Ganjam, Bhadrak and Balasore districts since Tuesday.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director General SN Pradhan on Wednesday said that Odisha and West Bengal have evacuated nearly 1.5 lakh and 3.3 lakh people respectively ahead of the landfall of cyclone Amphan today.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Amphan is likely to make landfall between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) close to Sundarbans near afternoon today and is likely to cause havoc in parts of Odisha and West Bengal.
"The Odisha government control room has informed that nearly 1.5 lakh people have been evacuated from six district of the state. Some districts like Balasore and Bhadrak will be more affected. So more people from these district have been evacuated," Mr Pradhan told ANI.
He said that according to the latest ground report, 20 teams of NDRF are deployed in Odisha, of which 16 teams were there overnight and four more were called in this morning.
Cyclone Amphan lay centred about 170 km south of West Bengal's Digha as an extremely severe cyclonic storm over west central Bay of Bengal and is likely to make landfall near Sunderbans between Wednesday afternoon and evening, the weather department said.
Amphan is likely to move north-northeastwards after landfall and pass close to Kolkata in its eastern side, causing extensive damage and flooding of low-lying areas in the city, the weather office said.
The system, which was moving in a northward direction at a speed of 20 km per hour, was situated 300 km southeast of Kolkata at 11 am on Wednesday, it said, reported news agency PTI.
It is likely to weaken and move through Nadia and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal as a cyclonic storm and then into Bangladesh as a deep depression on Thursday morning, the MeT department said.
The intensity near the centre of the storm was 170 to 180 kmph gusting to 200kmph, it said.
"The cyclone is very likely to move north-northeastwards and cross West Bengal-Bangladesh coast between Digha and Hatiya, close to Sunderbans between afternoon and evening on Wednesday with a wind speed of 155 to 165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph as a very severe cyclonic storm," the weather office said.
SUCS AMPHAN about 125 km south-southeast of Digha (West Bengal) at 1130 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 afternoon. pic.twitter.com/ltVuRK5tBM
- India Met. Dept. (@Indiametdept) May 20, 2020
#WATCH Rains accompanied by strong winds lash Bhubaneswar in Odisha. #Amphan pic.twitter.com/pYkrnqr8PZ
- ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2020
Cyclone Amphan: Storm Surge As High As 5 Metres: 5 Facts On Cyclone Amphan At This HourCylone Amphan, which is likely to hit Bengal today between 4 and 6 pm, is causing strong winds and heavy rain in parts of Odisha and Bengal as it nears the coast. This is only the second "super cyclone" to form in the northeastern Indian Ocean and also one of the worst storms over the Bay of Bengal in years. It is likely to hit the Indian coast as a strong storm equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane. The centre has assured all help to the states bracing for the cyclone at a time when India is fighting coronavirus." itemprop="description
Odisha: Trees uprooted in Paradip as wind speed touches 102 km/ph. #CycloneAmphan is expected to make landfall today. pic.twitter.com/10Aq8Y19CE
- ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2020
We're looking at time & possible speed of #Amphan's landing. As per IMD, storm surge could be 4-6 meters of seawater which will enter land area.NDRF teams are coordinating with local administration for storm surge response.41 teams are deployed in Odisha&West Bengal:NDRF Chief https://t.co/jPPb0LU7x7
- ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2020
In the wake of Cyclone Amphan, the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) is monitoring the developments in the Bay of Bengal closely and ships at Visakhapatnam have been kept on standby to proceed to affected areas to undertake humanitarian aid, distress relief, evacuation, and logistic support.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Amphan is likely to make landfall between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) close to Sundarbans near afternoon today and is likely to cause havoc in parts of Odisha and West Bengal.
According to the Navy, these ships are embarked with additional divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats and relief material including food, tentage, clothes, medicines, blankets in sufficient quantities, reported news agency ANI.
Wind speed has picked up near coastal Odisha& is blowing at around 100 kmph at Paradip. Wind is not that strong in West Bengal. Odisha has evacuated nearly 1.5 lakh people from Balasore & Bhadrak & West Bengal has evacuated over 3.3 lakh people: NDRF Chief SN Pradhan on #Amphan pic.twitter.com/utHkxbW2RP
- ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2020
Heavy rain and strong winds continue to hit Odisha as a widespread effect of cyclone Amphan.
Odisha: Heavy rain and strong wind continues to lash Chandipur, as widespread effect of #AmphanCyclone pic.twitter.com/ImcMLCW4P4
- ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2020
Eastern Naval Command in high degree of readiness to render necessary humanitarian assistance. Naval ships at Vizag on standby to proceed to affected areas to undertake Humanitarian Aid Distress Relief, evacuation, & logistic support including providing medical aid: Indian Navy pic.twitter.com/cXYSpTYwtB
- ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2020
#WATCH Cyclone 'AMPHAN' lies 110kms from Paradip & is moving at a speed of 18-19kmph. An hour ago, wind speed of 102kmph was observed at Paradip. Landfall expected near Sunderbans in West Bengal by late evening today. Next 6-8 hrs crucial: PK Jena, Spl Relief Commissioner,Odisha pic.twitter.com/EKYnNwVefy
- ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2020
#WATCH Cyclone 'AMPHAN' lies 110kms from Paradip & is moving at a speed of 18-19kmph. An hour ago, wind speed of 102kmph was observed at Paradip. Landfall expected near Sunderbans in West Bengal by late evening today. Next 6-8 hrs crucial: PK Jena, Spl Relief Commissioner,Odisha pic.twitter.com/EKYnNwVefy
- ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2020
As many as 1,19,075 people have been evacuated from 13 vulnerable districts of Odisha. Due to the cyclone, rainfall and strong winds are expected to batter several districts of Odisha today, news agency ANI reported.
Cyclone AMPHAN: Massive Devastation Expected In Coastal Areas OBSERVATIONS FROM THE COAST
- India Met. Dept. (@Indiametdept) May 20, 2020
WIND-SPEED (KMPH):
PARADIP-102, CHANDBALI-74, BHUBANESHWAR-37,
BALASORE-61, PURI-41 AND GOPALPUR-4 KMPH. 1/2
Hourly Bulletin No. 3 Link :https://t.co/ZTsIoRbPKD.../bulletin/hourly.pdf
#AmphanUpdates@NDRFHQ Teams evacuating people and domestic animals to safe cyclone shelters in #Kendrapara district, #Odisha.@PIB_India @MIB_India @PIBHomeAffairs @ndmaindia @satyaprad1 @nityanandraibjp @dmkendrapara @AnubhavMohanty_ @SRC_Odisha @gapg_dept@RDOdisha pic.twitter.com/IE3m90PTRz
- PIB in Odisha #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIBBhubaneswar) May 19, 2020
Superfacts On Cyclone Amphan Superfacts On Cyclone Amphan#WATCH Strong winds at Chandipur in Balasore district, as #CycloneAmphan is expected to make landfall today. #Odisha pic.twitter.com/O87dN6mWnd
- ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2020
#Watch | Kolkata on Red Alert in light of cyclone #Amphan which is likely to make landfall in West Bengal today pic.twitter.com/FQdEFD5MiH
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 20, 2020
Odisha: Strong winds and high tides at Chandipur in Balasore district, as #CycloneAmphan is expected to make landfall today. pic.twitter.com/4Na7Xbsc4C
- ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2020
#Watch | High tide in Digha, West Bengal where cyclone #Amphan is likely to make landfall pic.twitter.com/B3SawE9GH3
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 20, 2020
