Yaas likely to intensify into very severe cyclonic storm, make landfall in West Bengal: MeT

The Regional Meteorological dept said a low pressure was formed over East Central Bay of Bengal on Saturday and is very likely to concentrate into a depression over East Central Bay of Bengal within May 23 and by May 24 it will intensify into a very severe Cyclonic storm and will move north-northwestwards and will reach North Bay of Bengal near West Bengal and adjoining north Odisha and Bangladesh coasts around May 26.

“The coastal areas will start receiving moderate rainfall with wind-speed up to 40-45 kmph and the rainfall will gradually increase for entire Gangetic West Bengal and the landfall is likely on West Bengal coast with windspeed up to 120-160 kmph,” regional director GK Das said, adding the condition might change and developments can be added.

“According to radar reading Yaas will remain as a cyclone and chances are less for it to get converted into a super cyclone like Amphan,” added GK Das.

Meanwhile, all the district magistrates near the coastal areas were seen asking people to take shelter in concrete buildings and were urging fishermen to come back by May 23 morning. The DMs were seen monitoring the dams to avert untoward incident.

A 24-hour control room has been opened in ‘Upanna’, a place near West Bengal state secretariat Nabanna where West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee will be present on May 25-26.

Kolkata Municipal Corporation has opened a control room and staff will operate in 3 shifts for round-the-clock monitoring.

Notably, 115 disaster management teams are made across West Bengal. Also, a total of 78 trains of South-Eastern Railways due to cyclone Yaas.

Agencies add: The Indian Navy put on standby 4 warships and several aircraft to deal with the possible Yaas impact. It said 8 flood relief teams and 4 diving teams are positioned at Odisha and West Bengal to augment the existing resources. 4 naval ships have been put on standby with humanitarian aid, relief materials and medical teams.