Thousands evacuated as heavy rain, gusts hit Odisha, Bengal ahead of cyclone Amphan

New Delhi: Authorities in Indian states of Odisha and West Bengal yesterday evacuated and subsequently moved thousands of people to relief camps ahead of super cyclone Amphan.

The super cyclone that was likely to weaken into extremely severe storm was expected to make landfall in West Bengal this morning.

“This is the most intense cyclone - the second super cyclone - which has been formed in the Bay of Bengal after 1999. Its wind speed in the sea right now is 200-240 kmph. It is moving towards north northwestward direction,” India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said yesterday.

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Chief Ministers of West Bengal and Odisha Mamata Banerjee and Naveen Patnaik, and assured them of all possible help from the government.

According to Ms Banerjee, 300,000 people have been evacuated from coastal areas in West Bengal. Likewise NDRF teams were evacuating people from Odisha’s Bhadrak and Kendrapada districts.

Meanwhile Director General of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), S N Pradhan said 41 teams had been deployed for West Bengal and Odisha in anticipation of the cyclone. Pradhan while briefing media in New Delhi said, NDRF was fully prepared to tackle the super cyclone and taking necessary steps for evacuation, communication and creating awareness.

The IMD has issued an “orange” warning for West Bengal and Odisha.

Authorities have advised fishermen not to venture into north Bay of Bengal along and off West Bengal-Odisha coasts until Thursday.

The severe cyclonic storm comes at a time when India is fighting against COVID-19, which has affected 101,139 people in the country and killed 3163.