India
Cyclone Yaas Live updates: Bengal, Odisha On High Alert; Amit Shah Reviews Situation
Cyclone Yaas Updates: NDRF has committed 99 teams across states likely to be affected by the cyclone.
New Delhi:
Cyclone Yaas – which is expected to be about as intense as Cyclone Tauktae which slammed into the west coast last week – is likely to intensify into severe cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours and will bring winds of speed of up to 180 kms per hour when it makes landfall on West Bengal and Odisha coasts on Wednesday, the weather department said today.
The cyclone is very likely to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar Island around May 26 noon
Home Minister Amit Shah will hold a meeting with the Chief Ministers of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to review preparations in view of cyclone Yaas.
Here are the Live Updates on Cyclone Yaas:
#CycloneYaas is likely to affect the region on 26-27 May. Union Home Minister Amit Shah called and enquired about the preparedness of Assam, Sikkim & Meghalaya. Informed that emergency services have been pressed into action: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma pic.twitter.com/kDjadKCLck
– ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2021
NDRF has pre positioned 46 teams in this 5 states & the engineering task force with boats and rescue equipment, are on standby for active deployment should the need arise :@PiyushGoyal
– Piyush Goyal Office (@PiyushGoyalOffc) May 24, 2021
At 1130 IST, Cyclone ‘Yaas’ about 520 km south-southeast of Paradip. To intensify further and cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts betweenParadip and Sagar Islands around Balasore, during noon of 26th Mayas a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm. pic.twitter.com/Xb9cHYsfyE
– India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 24, 2021
Odisha | Arrangements made for a smooth evacuation following #COVID norms. Oxygen plants are given alternate power backups. Adequate buffer oxygen stocks are being made available to COVID hospitals in cyclone-prone area: Pradeep K Jena Special Relief Commissioner#CycloneYaaspic.twitter.com/xis7vDDvn2
– ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2021
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday held a meeting via video conferencing with the chief ministers of West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, and the Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to review the situation that may arise due to cyclone Yaas, which is forming in the Bay of Bengal.
He reviewed and reiterated to the state/UT administrations to ensure adequate power backup in all COVID-19 hospitals, laboratories, vaccine cold chains and other medical facilities, according to the Home Ministry. He also advised them to ensure adequate stocks of essential medicines and supplies in hospitals, keeping in view likely disruption of vehicular movement.
The minister also advised them to make adequate arrangements to secure the health facilities, including temporary hospitals, which are likely to be affected by the cyclone, from losses and for evacuation of patients in advance, if necessary.
He also reviewed the likely impact of the cyclone on oxygen generation plans located in West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Mr Shah advised the states to plan in advance to ensure a buffer stock of oxygen for two days and the movement of oxygen to the allocated states so that supply is not impact in case of any disruption.
Besides advising them to ensure safety of oxygen generation plants, he also emphasised the need to make necessary arrangements for the safety of power plants to ensure uninterrupted power supply to hospitals and health facilities.
In view of the latest IMD advisory, eight teams of the 1st Battalion of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been airlifted from Guwahati to Odisha for rescue and search operations in view of the impending cyclone Yaas in Bay of Bengal.
“The state governments had requisitioned more than 50 teams of the NDRF in Odisha and 35 teams in West Bengal. The teams from NDRF battalions in Assam and Bihar are airlifted to Odisha and West Bengal in addition to those from the battalion stationed in the districts,” said HPS Kandari, Commandant, 01 NDRF.
These teams, comprising 200 personnel of 01 NDRF Guwahati, including engineers, paramedics, technical experts and others, were airlifted from Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport to the Bhubaneswar airport in two transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
These teams are equipped with flood rescue boats and collapse search and rescue operation specialist equipment.
NDRF chief SN Pradhan has asked authorities in West Bengal and Odisha to adopt an over-preparing approach for the impending natural disaster and carry out evacuation even in the least vulnerable places.
“What we have learnt so far from our experiences over the years is that if the disaster prediction is X, then you must prepare for 2X because a natural phenomenon can turn worse in a matter of hours. So, if the forecast is for a very severe cyclone of 150 kmph, you should gear up for an extremely severe cyclone,” Mr Pradhan said.
“My advice to all the district magistrates would be to go for extra evacuation even in places identified as mildly vulnerable. Please remember, timely evacuation is a life saver. I believe the culture of over preparing has to come to India now,” the NDRF Director General said.
#CycloneYaas | Light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy falls at isolated places on 24th May and heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places on 25th May in north coastal Andhra Pradesh.
– ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2021
Cyclone Yaas news: 85 NDRF Teams Stationed Across 4 States, 1 Union Territory
Of 85 NDRF teams, 32 have been deployed in Bengal and 28 in Odisha. Some teams are also out in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Odisha: ADG Law & Order YK Jethwa, visits Balasore and Bhadrak to review cyclone evacuation plans and preparedness for post-cyclone rescue and recovery operations. 60 ODRAF formations and 55 platoons force deployed for tackling #CycloneYaaspic.twitter.com/Nklz91WjYc
– ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2021
The Eastern Railway has cancelled 25 trains between May 24 and May 29. The Railways issued a press release, informing about the decision and also shared lists of the trains it has canceled.
The low-pressure area which formed over the east-central Bay of Bengal on Saturday morning has intensified into a depression on Sunday and by Monday morning, it will form a cyclone namely Yaas, informed the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General of Meteorology Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra. “It is very likely to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm.
Odisha Energy Minister Captain Dibya Shankar Mishra on Sunday directed department officials to maintain a steady power supply to hospitals and oxygen plants during and after the cyclone makes landfall, news agency ANI reported.
The minister chaired a high-level meeting of department officials to take stock of the preparedness ahead of cyclone “Yaas”, according to an official press release.
At 0830 IST,CS ‘Yaas’ centred near 16.4°N/89.6°E, 630 km south-southeast of Balasore (Odisha). Would intensify further into SCS during next 12 hours and into a VSCS during subsequent 24 hours, to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts b/w Paradip and Sagar islands around 26th noon pic.twitter.com/8MVn33G4fB
– India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 24, 2021
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has committed 99 teams across Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the view of Cyclone Yaas, NDRF Director General SN Pradhan said on Monday.
“#CycloneYaas Update24/5/21 @NDRFHQ commits 99 tms Across 5States/UT 52 tms(22+30 more)-Odisha 35 tms(25+10more)WBengal Rest across AP/TN/A&N,” Mr Pradhan tweeted.
As many as 18 teams NDRF teams have been deployed in Odisha alone. Seven teams have been deployed in Balasore, 4 in Bhadrak, 3 in Kendrapada, 2 in Jajpur, one each in Jagatsinghpur and Mayurbhanj. Four teams have also been kept as reserve, as per the NDRF.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah holds meeting via video conference with the chief ministers of Odisha
Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to review preparations in view of #CycloneYaaspic.twitter.com/KKdQVek6ie– ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2021
Cyclone Yaas is likely to intensify into severe cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours and will bring winds of speed of up to 180 kms per hour when it makes landfall on West Bengal and Odisha coasts on Wednesday, the weather department said today. Read Here
