'Very severe cyclonic storm' Yaas has weakened into a 'severe cyclonic storm' and, at 12.30 pm, was centred over north coastal Odisha - around 15 km from Balasore. It is expected to move north-northwest and weaken further into a 'cyclonic storm'. 185 km per hour winds were predicted but revised to 130-140 km per hour after Yaas failed to intensify past 2 am.
Yaas is likely to move over Odisha's Mayurbhanj district later today, with 100-110 km per hour winds, before weakening and turning toward Jharkhand by midnight. Visuals from Ranchi show increased wind speeds and overcast skies. The state is on high alert and officials have begun evacuations from vulnerable areas like east and west Singhbhum.
In Bengal, around 20,000 mud houses and temporary shelters were either destroyed or damaged, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters this afternoon. Bengal minister Bankim Hazra said: "I have not seen anything like this before" after sea waters inundated low-lying areas in Digha, where a police station was flooded.
Around 5.8 lakh people have been shifted from low-lying regions in Odisha and around 11.5 lakh from places along the Bengal coast. Chief ministers of both states held review meetings Tuesday, with particular focus on arrangements - including supply of oxygen and electricity - for Covid hospitals in vulnerable regions. Ms Banerjee will spend tonight at her office - "Nabanna" - to monitor Yaas' impact and subsequent relief efforts.
Here are the Live Updates on Cyclone Yaas:
May 26, 2021 20:36 (IST)
Odisha Chief Minister Reviews Situation In State After Cyclone Yaas Completes Landfall
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today reviewed the post cyclone situation in the state and announced seven days of relief for all families of 128 marooned villages in the cyclone-affected districts.
Major roads will be restored for communication in the next 24 hours and 80% of the electricity supply will be restored in affected district in the next 24 hours.
The Chief minister congratulated all the Panchayat representatives, district administrations, community organisations, and the police for their work in evacuating people. He also thanked the doctors and health workers for their continuous services in the affected districts during Cyclone Yaas.
May 26, 2021 19:11 (IST)
Cyclone Yaas to Gradually Weaken Into Cyclonic Storm: Weather Office
Cyclone Yaas likely to move northwestwards and weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm during next hour. The current intensity near centre is 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph, the MeT department said in a bulletin.
May 26, 2021 17:41 (IST)
Odisha Continues To Transport Oxygen Despite Cyclone Yaas
The transportation of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) from Odisha remained unhindered even during the very severe cyclonic storm Yaas today, reported news agency ANI.
According to an official release, four oxygen tankers were transported from Angul to Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam today, while two were transported from Jajpur to Berhampur and Bhubaneswar, under close supervision and escort from Odisha Police.
May 26, 2021 17:11 (IST)
Residential Areas In Coastal Bengal Inundated As Cyclone Yaas Unleashes Fury
Several roads adjoining the sea beaches in Bengal's Digha lay inundated, with some people seen wading through chest-deep water, as the tourist town and its adjoining places bore the brunt of Cyclone Yaas, which made its landfall in Odisha today, reported news agency PTI.
Many areas in Purba Medinipur, of which Digha is a part, and South 24 Parganas were whiplashed by heavy rain, which accompanied the cyclonic storm.
Security personnel have been deployed at all vulnerable locations in the state to help and rescue people caught in the storm, a senior police officer said.
May 26, 2021 16:17 (IST)
Cyclone Yaas Completes Landfall In Odisha, Rainfall To Continue Till Tomorrow: Weather Office
Cyclone Yaas has completed the process of landfall, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, while advising fishermen not to go venture to sea for the rest of the day, reported news agency ANI.
"Cyclone Yaas has complete the process of landfall. Rainfall will continue till tomorrow. Fishermen are advised to not venture out till tomorrow morning because the sea condition going to be rough," Umashankar Das, Senior Scientist at the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar told the news agency.
The process of landfall started around 9 am today between Dhamra and Balasore in Odisha. High-speed winds uprooted many trees and heavy showers lashed several parts of the state.
May 26, 2021 15:50 (IST)
Cyclone Yaas: At Least One Crore People Affected, Three Lakh Houses Damaged In Bengal, Says Mamata Banerjee
At least one crore people have been affected and three lakh houses damaged in West Bengal due to the rough weather conditions due to Cyclone Yaas, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said today, reported news agency PTI.
One person has died "accidentally" when he went out to fish, she said.
Cautioning people that high tide in the sea caused by the storm surge will persist, Ms Banerjee claimed that Bengal happens to be the "most-affected state" by the cyclone.
