Amphan-hit Bengal braces for new storm

KOLKATA: A year after Cyclone Amphan left behind a trail of destruction in West Bengal, the eastern state is bracing for another cyclone that could hit coastal districts around May 26.

“Another cyclone, ‘Yaas’, is approaching. We have started preparing. All district magistrates have been alerted, particularly officials in the Sunderbans and coastal districts,” said chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday. Banerjee held a review meeting at the state secretariat with top officials from various departments associated with disaster management.

On May 20 last year, Cyclone Amphan had pummelled through six districts of south Bengal leaving 98 dead.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a low-pressure area is expected to form over Bay of Bengal around May 22. By May 24, it is expected to intensify into a cyclone and move north-westwards, reaching near the Odisha-west Bengal border on the morning of May 26. In the districts too, officials have started holding meetings to finalise their plans on how to tackle the crisis even as the Covid pandemic rages. “Last year too, when Cyclone Amphan had hit, Covid was taking a toll. But this time, cases are much higher. Hence, we must plan accordingly. The number of cyclone shelters, where evacuees will be kept, are being almost doubled so that social distancing could be maintained,” said a senior official of North 24 Parganas, a coastal district of West Bengal.

At Sagar in South 24 Parganas, which was one of the worstaffected by Amphan, the authorities are setting up safe houses and quarantine centres to isolate infected villagers.