Alert! Cyclone Yaas to Make Landfall on May 26; Could Be as Damaging as Cyclone Amphan, says IMD

Weather Update: Cyclone Yaas is supposed to hit coastal areas of Odisha and West Bengal on Wednesday, barely a week after Cyclone Tauktae wreaked havoc on the western coast and left behind a trail of destruction. 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday said the cyclone is likely to make landfall on May 26 evening between Paradip in Odisha and Sagar islands in West Bengal after intensifying into a very severe cyclonic storm' with wind speed between 155kmph to 165 kmph, gusting to 185 kmph. It will also bring strong rainfall in coastal area from Tuesday. 

From Depression in Bay of Bengal to convert into cyclonic storm: 

The potential of cyclonic storm Yaas is likely to be similar to that of Cyclone Amphan, which hit the Sunderbans in south Bengal in May 2020, killing over 100 people and causing widespread damage in the region. 

Cyclone Tauktae, a week ago, left over 100 people dead and damaged thousands of houses in Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala. Apart from this, at least 70 people have died after a barge sank in the Arabian Sea during the storm. 

In the latest update on May 24, IMD said that the depression over East-central Bay of Bengal has intensified into a Deep Depression and is about 600 km north- northwest of Port Blair. 

Preparations for cyclone Yaas:  

Prime Minister on May 23 chaired a high- level meeting to assess the preparedness of the state and central agencies to manage the situation and called for a timely evacuation of those involved in offshore activities. 

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has mobilized its assets considering Cyclone Yaas which is expected to hit the Eastern Coast on May 26, 2021. All the afloat, ashore and aviation units are on high alert and ICG ships and aircraft have been employed in Bay of Bengal and Andaman sea. 

The armed forces are also on alert along with the Navy putting on standby 4 warships and a number of aircraft. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has kept 25 helicopters and 11 transport aircraft ready to carry out humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations as part of preparations to handle the situation emerging out of Cyclone Yaas. 

The IAF airlifted 21 tonnes of relief materials and 334 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel to Kolkata and Port Blair from three different places on Sunday because the government started a series of measures to address the cyclone that is developing in the Bay of Bengal. 

The Indian Navy had said 8 flood relief teams and 4 diving teams are stationed at Odisha and West Bengal to increase the existing resources. Moreover, 4 naval ships have been put on standby with humanitarian aid and disaster relief materials and along with the medical teams.