Cyclone Yaas intensifies SHAH REVIEWS CYCLONE PREP WITH CMS OF AP, BENGAL, ODISHA
NEW DELHI: Cyclone Yaas, the second storm to hit the country in a week, is set to turn into a “very severe cyclonic storm” and likely to cross the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal on Wednesday afternoon with wind speeds of up to 166 kmph, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.
Authorities began evacuating hundreds of thousands of people from coastal areas in the two states, officials said.
IMD said the deep depression over east central Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm on Monday morning, and was very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Monday night and a very severe cyclonic storm during the subsequent 24 hours.
Yaas -- pronounced Yass -- is likely to cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar islands close to Balasore in Odisha on Wednesday noon as a very severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds between 118 to 166 kmph.
Initially IMD had said Yass would make landfall around Wednesday evening but advanced the time of landfall. “At the time of landfall, we are expecting wind speed to be around 155 to 165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph. Once Yaas intensifies to a Severe Cyclone we are also expecting its sea travel to be faster which is why the landfall time has been advanced,” said
Sunitha Devi, in charge, cyclones at IMD.
Though oceanic and atmospheric conditions over Bay of Bengal are extremely favourable for intensification of Yaas, experts hope it will not intensify to an extremely severe cyclone because Yaas has formed relatively close to the coast and has less time over the unusually
NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday reviewed the preparations for Cyclone Yaas, including the evacuation of people on the high seas as well as in vulnerable coastal areas and the safety of Covid-19 facilities.
In a virtual meeting with the chief minister Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal and the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Shah discussed the possible impact of the cyclone on oxygen generation plants located in their respective states and asked them to ensure their safety.
The minister said a 24x7 control room is functioning in the ministry of home affairs.shah specifically conveyed to the states to make adequate power backup arrangements in all Covid-19 hospitals, laboratories, vaccine cold chains and other medical facilities, a statement said.