Super Cyclone Amphan Strikes West Bengal Today
Cyclone Amphan pronounced as ‘Um Pun’ is described as a severe storm which will hit West Bengal today afternoon. There were strong winds and heavy rains in several districts of West Bengal today.
Cyclone Amphan pronounced as ‘Um Pun’ is described as a severe storm which will hit West Bengal today afternoon. There were strong winds and heavy rains in several districts of West Bengal today.
Around 4.5 lakh have been evacuated from West Bengal and Orissa. Seven districts of Bengal are likely to face the impact and Kolkata is also on high alert.
The speed of the strong winds is estimated to be 185 kilometres per hour when it crosses West Bengal’s Digha and Bangladesh’s Hatiya.
It transformed from a supercyclone into an extremely severe cyclonic storm when it entered Orissa with strong winds and heavy rains. There was rainfall in several districts of Orissa such as Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Ganjam, Ganjam, Bhadrak and Balasore districts since Tuesday.
Locals living near the coast have been warned to remain alert and stay off the coast. Fishermen have been warned not to venture into deep waters. 41 rescue teams have been deployed in Orissa and West Bengal. Around 1,575 pregnant women have been shifted to hospitals in certain coastal districts of Orissa.
#CycloneAmphan | NDRF DG S N Pradhan says rescue forces and administration are concerned and geared to tackle a storm surge or tidal waves up to 4-6 metres high as it is a new moon night or 'amavasya'.#CycloneAmphan live#CycloneAmphanUpdate
Video: NDRF pic.twitter.com/1dTGa4sgXn— TOI Kolkata (@TOIKolkata) May 20, 2020
The current challenge of Coronavirus also poses a double threat to the locals as they would have to maintain distance in the shelters. “We have told Bengal and Odisha, social distancing has to be maintained strictly in cyclone shelters. If a shelter has space for 1,000, then only 500 should be allowed”, NDRF chief SN Pradhan told NDTV.
The Indian Meteorological Department has issued warning that there would be damage such as flying objects and electric poles may get uprooted. Trains have been diverted that may fall in the cyclone’s path.
Amphan is expected to make a landfall on Wednesday noon or evening between West Bengal and Bangladesh close to the Sunderbans. The landfall is likely to start at 4 pm.