Cyclone Yaas Damages 1500 Homes and Crops on 75 Hectares in Jharkhand

Cyclone Yaas that wreaked havoc in Jharkhand with tornadoes, torrential rains, and overflowing rivers, destroyed crops on 75 hectares of land and damaged approximately 1,500 homes, most of which were uninhabitable, according to officials. 

While 20,000 people were relocated to safer locations, poor weather in Jharkhand resulted in a significant bridge collapse and four deaths, including one in Koderma due to a wall collapse caused by persistent rains. 

"A preliminary assessment of the damage indicates that 76 homes have collapsed, while 1,432 homes have suffered partial damage due to incessant rains in the state, as well as crop devastation on 75 hectares of land," State Disaster Management Secretary Amitabh Kaushal said. 

After wreaking havoc on Odisha and West Bengal, the cyclonic storm made landfall in Jharkhand on May 26 night, becoming a deep depression and passing through the state with winds gusting to 35 kmph on Thursday evening. Before leaving Jharkhand near the borders of Hazaribag and Chatra, its speed had dropped to 30-40 kmph in Ranchi. 

According to the secretary of the state disaster management department, a full evaluation of the damage caused by Yaas throughout the state has yet to be completed. He stated that 18 individuals were injured in the state due to severe weather, constant rains, and other factors. The cyclone impacted roughly 700 villages and caused a flash flood in Sahebganj. 

East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Saraikela-Kharsawan, Khunti, Ranchi, Ramgarh, and other districts have been severely damaged by torrential rains and winds. On Thursday, two people were killed in Ranchi owing to a house collapse, while a person died in Bokaro due to lighting the day before. 

A major bridge connecting multiple communities near Ranchi collapsed like a pack of cards on Thursday during heavy rain, prompting Chief Minister Hemant Soren to seek a high-level investigation.

"Water level has reduced in most sections of the district, and water flow in both the rivers - Subarnrekha and Kharkai has fallen below danger mark," said Suraj Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, East Singhbhum. "In the district, fifteen Katccha (raw) houses fell, while 463 were partially damaged, as well as damage to two paccka (concrete) dwellings." 

Kumar stated that, with the exception of roughly 50 people, the district's 12,000 inhabitants who were evacuated have returned to their original houses after receiving relief supplies from the district administration. 

"Yesterday's depression over central sections of Jharkhand proceeded north westwards and diminished into a well-marked low pressure system across Bihar and neighboring East Uttar Pradesh," according to the Indian Meteorological Department. 

Cyclone 'Yaas,' with winds of high to 130-145 kmph, slammed into the country's eastern shores on Wednesday before weakening to some amount as it made its way to Jharkhand.

Forest, drinking water, and sanitation agencies, as well as the departments of electricity and transportation, have been ordered to restore services such as electricity, transit, and water. Yaas is the country's second cyclonic storm in less than a week, after 'Tauktae' wreaked havoc on the country's western coast.