Cyclone Yaas may hit West Bengal or Odisha around May 25; Mamata Banerjee directs officials to prepare
A cyclone is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal and expected to hit the eastern coast on May 26, a top official of the Ministry of Earth Science said on Wednesday.
FollowCyclone Yaas is likely to form over Bay of Bengal around May 25, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD). Then, it is likely to move northwestwards and reach West Bengal and adjoining Odisha coasts on May 26 evening.
Officials at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday afternoon said that a low-pressure system could take birth within the next 48 hours and it holds the potential to intensify into a cyclone. This system will develop close to the north Andaman Sea around May 22 and reach either Odisha or West Bengal by the evening of May 26.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday directed senior government officials to make all necessary arrangements after the weather office warned about a cyclonic storm that may hit West Bengal's coastal areas on May 26.
Chairing a virtual meeting, Ms Banerjee directed the officers to arrange for adequate stock of medicines, drinking water, dry food and tarpaulins, officials said.
She also told the officers to ensure that enough force, from state disaster management team and the police, are deployed, they said.
"All cyclone centres and shelters have been asked to be readied. The district magistrates have been directed to take all precautionary measures in the wake of the warnings," an official said.
The district administrations have been asked to caution the fishermen not to venture into the sea, he said.
It is very likely to intensify gradually into a cyclonic storm during the subsequent 72 hours and move northwestwards and reach the West Bengal-Odisha coasts around May 26 evening. Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places over Andaman and Nicobar Islands is likely on May 22 and 23. Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places very likely to commence from May 25 evening with significant increase in spatial extension and intensity subsequently over Odisha – West Bengal, adjoining Assam and Meghalaya.
April-May, the pre-monsoon months, usually witness formation of cyclones on the eastern as well as the western coast.
May 2020 saw two cyclones -- super cyclonic storm Amphan and severe cyclonic storm Nisarga -- which hit the eastern and western coast, respectively.
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