Cyclone Yaas, like Tauktae, strikes as India battles a devastating second wave of Covid infections.
'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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cyclone Yaas: Heavy Rain Damages Road In Odisha's Bhadrak District, Restoration Work Underway
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.
Visuals From Odisha After Cyclone Yaas Made Landfall
Visuals From Odisha After Cyclone Yaas Made Landfall
Visuals From Odisha After Cyclone Yaas Made Landfall
Cyclone Yaas: Mamata Banerjee To Conduct Aerial Survey Of Affected AreasAs many as 15,04,506 people have been evacuated from the vulnerable areas in the state and moved to safer places, Mamata Banerjee said, reported news agency PTI.
"I will soon be undertaking an aerial survey of the affected areas in Purba Medinipur, South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas districts," Ms Banerjee said.
As of now, the government has a preliminary idea of the damage caused, from the reports provided by the district magistrates and other senior officials, the chief minister said.
"We will be conducting field surveys to get a final estimate... It will take us at least 72 hours to get a clearer idea," she added.
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.
Army Conducts Rescue And Relief Operations In Bengal's Talgachari East Midnapore
Cyclone Yaas Inundates Large Parts Of Bengal's Coastal Districtsising river water levels due to the landfall of cyclone "Yaas" have inundated large parts of West Bengal''s coastal districts of Purba Medinipur and South 24 Parganas on Wednesday, as sea waves were seen touching coconut tree-tops and cars floating in floodwaters.
The seaside towns of Digha and Mandarmoni in Purba Medinipur and Fraserganj and Gosaba in South 24 Parganas were among the areas affected by a storm surge of more than 2 metres above the astronomical tide level.
The surging waters have breached embankments at several places in the two coastal districts, inundating many villages and small towns, officials said.
Water levels of several rivers including Bidyadhari, Hooghly and Rupnarayan have risen owing to "Yaas" and accompanying storm surge.
Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and state police and civil defence volunteers were working round-the-clock to move people to safety.
Cyclone Yaas: Eastern Air Command Prepares For Rescue, Relief EffortsAs the landfall process of Cyclone Yaas began on Wednesday, the Eastern Air Command has mobilised its assets to provide a quick response in affected areas.
"Eastern Air Command has mobilised its assets for quick response due to the damage and destruction caused by severe cyclonic storm Yaas," a statement by the Eastern Air Command said.
The Eastern Air Command has set up a Task Force and has coordinated its rescue and relief operations with the state government.
"All rescue and relief operations are being co-ordinated with state government and a task force has been set up to monitor and synergise the efforts, in addition to co-ordinating with all agencies," it said.
Cyclone Yaas' landfall process started around 9 am on Wednesday morning between Dhamra and Balasore in Odisha and is expected to continue for about three to four hours.
As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), it is likely to make landfall around noon. Odisha Special Relief Commissioner PK Jena on Wednesday said that by around 1 pm, the tail end of the cyclone is expected to be completely moving to the landmass.
Cyclone Yaas Crossing Odisha Border, Will Reach Jharkhand Tomorrow Morning: Weather OfficeCyclone Yaas is currently crossing the Odisha border south of Balasore and will reach Jharkhand on Thursday morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said today.
IMD Director General of Meteorology Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that the cyclone caused heavy to extremely heavy rain in Odisha in the past 24 hours and northern and coastal parts of the state are expected to receive heavy rainfall.
The cyclone, estimated 120-140 Km per hour wind speed made landfall around 9 am on Wednesday between Dhamra and Balasore in Odisha, Special Relief Commissioner PK Jena said.
"It''s expected that by around 1 pm, the tail end of the cyclone will also be completely moving to landmass. It is making landfall between Dhamra and Balasore," Mr Jena said.
At around 12:30pm, the IMD informed that the cyclone was likely to move north-northwestwards and weaken gradually into a severe cyclonic storm in the next three hours, and into a cyclonic storm during the subsequent six hours.
"Wind speed will decrease gradually, becoming 90-100 kmph, gusting to 110 KMPH during the next three hours and 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 mph during the subsequent six hours," the IMD's hourly bulletin said.
Cyclone Yaas: High Alert, Evacuation On Amid Cyclone ThreatJharkhand, which was put on high alert, continued evacuating low-lying areas on Wednesday amid the forecast that cyclone Yaas would be hitting the state by midnight after pounding neighbouring Odisha and West Bengal, officials said.
Operations are being executed on war-footing in the vulnerable areas in East and West Singhbhum, besides some other districts, in view of the very severe cyclonic storm Yaas, Disaster Management Secretary Amitabh Kaushal told PTI.
"We are witnessing high-speed wind and have evacuated about 6,000 persons from thatched houses and danger zones to shelter homes in safer locations," East Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner Suraj Kumar said.
People are being shifted from low-lying areas near the two rivers in the district that are below the danger mark at present, he said.
Many trees and electic poles were also uprooted in East Singhbhum due to high-speed winds, disrupting power supply, he added.
Cyclone Yaas: Indian Army Rescue And Relief Columns On Alert In West BengalThe Indian Army on Wednesday said that in coordination with the West Bengal government it has positioned rescue and relief columns across the areas on the Odisha-West Bengal coast expected to be affected by "very severe cyclonic storm", which made landfall this morning, battering coastal districts of the two states with heavy rain and strong winds.
"To provide immediate support to people in emerging situation due to #CycloneYaas, briefing, joint recce, liaison & coordination with WB govt has been completed. Rescue and Relief columns are pre-positioned across areas expected to be affected for immediate response", the Indian Army said.
Cyclone Yaas: 6 Flights Cancelled At Mumbai AirportMumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) on Wednesday said as many as six flights, including three departures, have been cancelled in view of cyclone Yaas in the Bay of Bengal.
The flights to other regions, however, continue to operate as per schedule, CSMIA said a statement.
In light of the developments around Cyclone Yaas in the Bay of Bengal, the airport witnessed cancellation of flights between Mumbai to Kolkata and Bhubaneswar, CSMIA said.
Approximately six flights, three arrivals and departures each, have been cancelled so far, it said, news agency PTI reported.
Gusty Wind With Heavy Rain In Odisha's Paradip As Cyclone Yaas Approaches Odisha Coast
Cyclone Yaas makes landfall between Dhamra and Balasore. Trees uprooted in Dhamra in Bhadrak district on Odisha. Inundation has been reported from some areas, forces on standby for restoration work. The Odisha government warns people to stay indoors, says landfall not completed yet.
Cyclone Yaas updates: Flights to Kolkata and Bhubaneswar cancelled
Flights from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport between Mumbai to Bhubaneswar and Kolkata have been cancelled.
Approximately 6 flights, consisting 3 arrivals and 3 departures, have been cancelled so far.
Flights to other regions continue to operate on schedule. Passengers are requested to contact their respective airlines to check the schedule in advance.
The Met department has warned of tidal waves of two-four metres height above astronomical tide to inundate low-lying coastal areas of East Midnapore, and of two metres above astronomical tide in low-lying areas of South 24 Parganas.
Most parts of Odisha also received rains, said Umashankar Dash, a scientist at the Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar.
Chandbali in Bhadrak district received 273 mm rainfall, the highest amount of rainfall in the last 24 hours in the state, followed by Paradip (197 mm), Balasore (51 mm) Bhubaneswar (49 mm).
Cyclone Yaas landfall process is continuing: IMD
Cyclone Yass: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stays overnight at state secretariat to monitor ground situation
Ahead of the predicted landfall of the "very severe cyclonic storm" Yaas on the north Odisha-West Bengal coast on Wednesday aftenoon, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spent the night in state secretariat, Nabanna reviewing preparations and monitoring the situation on ground.
The state government has set up a round-the-clock control room in the secretariat annexe to monitor the situation.
As a precaution, Kolkata airport has closed for operations from 8.30 am to 7.45 pm and no flights will be operating to or from Kolkata, officials said.
Cyclone Yaas: Indian Navy prepares for relief, rescue operations
"INS Chilka at Khurda has stepped up and made all necessary arrangements, to coordinate the rescue and relief operations in close liaison with State Government agencies with the support of Headquarters Eastern Naval Command Visakhapatnam," informed an official release by Indian Navy
The Navy said that it has been closely monitoring the very severe Cyclonic Storm Yaas closing in on the Eastern Coast which is likely to cross the between Badrak and Balasore districts on 26 May.
As part of the preparation, a 24*7 cyclone monitoring team has been established and is functional from 24 May, assorted relief material and community kitchen for thousands of people are being made ready for immediate deployment in consultation with state authorities.
The Naval Officer-in-Charge (Odisha) Operations Room has been monitoring ships movement along the coast in coordination with authorities at Gopalpur, Paradip and Damara ports.
Cyclone Yaas: Odisha, Bengal, Jharkhand to receive light to moderate rainfall at most places
In view of the impending landfall of Cyclone Yaas, light to moderate rainfall are expected at most places in Odisha, West Bengal, and Jharkhand, informed India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The MeT department has also predicted heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places in these states.
"Light to moderate rainfall expected at most places with heavy to very heavy rains at few places with extremely heavy falls at isolated places in Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Balasore, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Kendrapara, and Keonjhargarh today," IMD said.
We are expecting 'very severe cyclonic storm': IMD scientist