Cyclone Amphan Highlights: Cyclone Amphan is one of the fiercest storms to form over Bay of Bengal.
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:
Cyclone Amphan Impact Worse Than Coronavirus: Mamata BanerjeeThe 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".
NDRF has deployed its 39 self-contained rescue & relief teams in coastal areas of West Bengal and Odisha in view of Cyclonic Storm Amphan. As many as 20 NDRF teams are deployed in the coastal areas of Odisha: Public Relations, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
Over 1 Million Customers Lose Power Supply As Cyclone Amphan Hits Bangladesh, 1 DeadOver one million consumers in the coastal areas of Bangladesh were without power after strong winds snapped electricity lines and many houses destroyed as the country was hit by a powerful cyclone on Wednesday that killed at least one person.
Cyclone "Amphan", the strongest to hit the region in nearly two decades, made a landfall on Wednesday evening. Authorities raised the alert level to ''great danger'' for some districts in the country as the cyclone, the most powerful storm since cyclone "Sidr" killed nearly 3,500 people in 2007, approached the coastline.
"More than one million consumers in at least 17 associations of the Rural Electrification Board have lost electricity," bdnews24.com reported.
Apart from this, almost 40,000 customers of West Zone Power Distribution Company have lost electricity supply.
The cyclone made landfall at 2.30 pm between Digha in West Bengal and and Hatiya island in Bangladesh, flattening fragile dwellings, uprooting trees and electric poles, news agency PTI reported.
Amphan crossed as a very severe cyclonic storm. While crossing its wind speed was 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph. Now it's located 35 km northeast of Sagar island (West Bengal), 70 km south of Kolkata, 95 km east-northeast of Digha, news agency reported quoting HR Biswas, Director of IMD Bhubaneswar (Odisha)
Atleast 3 Dead As Cyclone Amphan Batters West Bengal, Houses Damaged, Trees Uprooted
5,500 houses damaged, 2 persons dead and 2 severely injured in North 24 Parganas, as per 7 pm report, news agency ANI reported quoting Bibek Vasme, Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Basirhat.
Cyclone Amphan: Heavy Rain Lashes Kolkata
Cyclone Amphan: Rainfall and heavy winds in Bengal
Cyclone Amphan: 2 killed in West BengalCyclone Amphan has claimed two lives in West Bengal, reported news agency PTI quoting officials.
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 uproots trees, flattens houses in Odisha
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 to completely enter land by 7 PM, says weather agency
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.
Situation related to Cyclone Amphan fast transforming: Disaster Response Force
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.
Amphan Cyclone: Damaging Impact to continue in Odisha for a few hours, says weather agency
"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.
Cyclone Amphan: Heavy rainfall expected in Kolkata today due to the cyclone, says weather department chief.
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.
Cyclone Amphan with wind speeds of 110-135 kmph expected to pass near Kolkata tomorrowCyclone Amphan with wind speeds of 110-135 kmph expected to pass near Kolkata tomorrow, said weather office.
Kolkata may see damages in hoardings, and it may also effect small businesses, it added.
Cyclone Amphan: Over 6 lakh people evacuated, says NDRF.
"More than 5 Lakh people have been evacuated in West Bengal and 1,58,640 people in Odisha," said SN Pradhan, NDRF chief.
Cyclone Amphan: 19 NDRF teams in Bengal
"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.
Cyclone Amphan: Ready to deal with any situation, says Disaster Response Force
"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.
NDRF, IMD briefing on cyclone Amphan
Cyclone Amphan: Heavy rain, gale wind hit several districts in Bengal
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.
Cyclone Amphan begins landfall process in Bengal: Weather department official
"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.
Cyclone Amphan: Trees uprooted in West Bengal's Digha due to widespread effect of cyclone
Bangladesh reports first death from Cyclone Amphan
Bangladesh reports first death from Cyclone Amphan, according to news agency AFP.
Cyclone Amphan: 4.5 lakh people evacuated from Odisha, West Bengal
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.
Cyclone Amphan now situated just 95-km from Bengal's Digha, says weather office
Cyclone Amphan: Bengal villagers being shifted to shelter ahead of landfall
Cyclone Amphan rolls towards Indian shores, unleashes downpour
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.
Cyclone Amphan: Odisha, West Bengal evacuated 1.5 lakh, 3.3 lakh people, says Disaster Response Force
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 about 170 km south of West Bengal's Digha, says weather department
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.
Cyclone Amphan landfall process to commence from afternoon, says weather department
Cyclone Amphan: Rains accompanied by strong winds hit Bhubaneswar in Odisha
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
Cyclone Amphan: Trees uprooted in Odisha's Paradip as wind speed touches 102 km/ph.
Cyclone Amphan: Coordinating with local administration for storm surge response, says Disaster Response Force
Cyclone Amphan: Navy on high alert for relief efforts
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.
Cyclone Amphan: Wind speed picked up near coastal Odisha, not that strong in West Benga: Disaster Response Force
Cyclone Amphan: Heavy rain and strong winds continue in Odisha
Heavy rain and strong winds continue to hit Odisha as a widespread effect of cyclone Amphan.
Video: Top Odisha Official Gives Updates On Cyclone Amphan
Watch: Cyclone Amphan Triggers Strong Winds In Odisha's Kendrapara
Cyclone Amphan: Alert Sounded In NortheastThe Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) of IMD at Guwahati has sounded an 'alert' for Northeast India with the approaching super cyclonic storm 'Amphan'. There are high chances of the storm creating a deep depression after land fall and to hit parts of Northeast India , mostly - in Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Sikkim on Thursday.
All airport operations have been suspended in Kolkata due to coronavirus till 5 am tomorrow, news agency ANI reported.
Cyclone Amphan Updates: Nearly One Lakh Evacuated In Odisha
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 Updates: Navy On High Alert Indian Navy is on "high alert", a statement said this morning.
"The Eastern Naval Command(ENC) has assumed high degree of readiness to render necessary humanitarian assistance. Indian Naval ships at Visakhapatnam are standing-by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake Humanitarian Aid Distress Relief (HADR), evacuation, logistic support including providing medical aid. These ships are embarked with additional divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats and relief material that include food, tentage, clothes, medicines, blankets etc, in sufficient quantities. Additionally, twenty Rescue Teams with Gemini Boats and medical teams are also kept ready for augmenting rescue and relief efforts in Odisha and West Bengal. Naval aircraft are also standing by at the Naval Air Stations INS Dega at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh and INS Rajali at Arakkonam, Tamilnadu to undertake reconnaissance, rescue, and casualty evacuation if required," the statement said.
In Bangladesh, over two million people have been evacuated to safety to 12,078 cyclone shelters.
Video: NDRF Teams Evacuating People To Safety In Odisha
Superfacts On Cyclone AmphanAmphan is the equivalent of a Category-5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, according to US space agency NASA. The space agency's Aqua satellite passed over the Indian Ocean on Monday and gathered water vapor data that showed the intensity of powerful tropical cyclone.
The storm was formed over south-east Bay of Bengal on Saturday evening (May 16). "It was designated Tropical Cyclone 01B. Overnight, it quickly strengthened to hurricane force," NASA said.
Superfacts On Cyclone AmphanAmphan is the equivalent of a Category-5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, according to US space agency NASA. The space agency's Aqua satellite passed over the Indian Ocean on Monday and gathered water vapor data that showed the intensity of powerful tropical cyclone.
The storm was formed over south-east Bay of Bengal on Saturday evening (May 16). "It was designated Tropical Cyclone 01B. Overnight, it quickly strengthened to hurricane force," NASA said.
At 8 am, the storm lay centered 125 km near east-southeast of Odisha's Paradip and 225 km south of Digha in West Bengal
Video: Ahead Of Likely Landfall, Strong Winds In Odisha's Balasore Triggered By Cyclone Amphan
Cyclone Amphan: Kolkata On Red Alert Due To The Storm
Cyclone Amphan Triggers Strong Winds, High Tides In Odisha's Balasore