East coast braces for Cyclone Yaas impact

States on the country’s eastern coast have started preparing for likelihood of Cyclone Yaas intensifying into a “very severe cyclonic storm” and cross the Odisha and West Bengal coasts on May 26, days after Cyclone Tauktae battered the country’s west coast before making landfall in Gujarat on Monday night.

The ministry of defence on Saturday said the Indian Coast Guard has initiated extensive pre-emptive measures on the east coast and all the ashore, afloat and aviation units are on high alert. “Ships at anchorage have also been advised to take shelter and necessary safety measures. Navtex warnings are being issued regularly and the International Safety Net (ISN) has been activated to alert the vessels in/ transiting through the area. Port authorities, Oil rig operators, Shipping, fisheries authorities, and fishermen associations have been informed about the likelihood of cyclone formation, and a close liaison and coordination for the safety of boats, vessels, and fixed platforms are being maintained,” a statement from the ministry said.

The statement shortly after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that Cyclone Yaas was likely to intensify into a “very severe cyclonic storm”. A low-pressure area formed over the east-central Bay of Bengal and the adjoining north Andaman Sea on Saturday, the IMD said. While a lowpressure area is the first stage of formation of a cyclone, it is not necessary that all low-pressure areas will intensify into cyclonic storms.

“The low-pressure area is very likely to concentrate into a depression over east central Bay of Bengal by tomorrow, the 23rd May morning. It is very likely to move north-northwestwards, intensify into a Cyclonic Storm by 24th May and further into a very severe cyclonic storm during the subsequent 24 hours,” the IMD said in its bulletin.

It would continue to move north-northwestwards, intensify further and reach north Bay of Bengal near West Bengal and the adjoining north Odisha and Bangladesh coasts by the morning of May 26, it said. “It is very likely to cross West Bengal and the adjoining north Odisha and Bangladesh coasts around the evening of 26th May,” the IMD said.

Following the IMD forecast, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also deployed teams in 11 districts of West Bengal.

“#Cycloneyaas UPDATE 22/5/21 @NDRFHQ already deployed teams @ locs below 1. Hasnabad 2. Sandeshkhali 3.

It is likely intensify into a Cyclonic Storm by 24th May and further into a very severe cyclonic storm

NEW DELHI: