Super cyclone ''Amphan'' weakened into an extremely severe cyclonic storm on Tuesday as it moved closer to the coast, triggering rainfall in several parts of Odisha and West Bengal, where the state governments stepped up efforts to evacuate people in vulnerable areas, said a weather department official.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) chief SN Pradhan today told reporters they face the "double challenge" of the coronavirus pandemic and a natural disaster. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she will ask the railways to stop running special "Shramik" trains for migrants to the state till Thursday. The cyclonic storm is likely to cross West Bengal's Digha and Bangladesh's Hatiya tomorrow.
Three lakh people have been evacuated from coastal areas in West Bengal, Ms Banerjee said today. "All precautionary measures are taken to deal with any eventuality arising out of the super cyclone. I had a word with Home Minister Amit Shah regarding it. At least three lakh people have been evacuated from three coastal districts of the state and moved to relief shelters," she told reporters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a high-level meeting after two states - Odisha and West Bengal - were alerted about Cyclone Amphan, which may hit Bengal tomorrow, according to the weather office.
A "very heavy rain" warning has also been issued in some states in the northeast.