Cyclone Amphan LIVE Updates:

Cyclone Amphan LIVE Updates:

 Bengal Evacuates 3 Lakh People, Heavy Rainfall in Digha and Kolkata

Cyclone Amphan LIVE Updates: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said the state government has so far evacuated and moved 3 lakh people to relief camps, with Cyclone Amphan expected to make landfall in the state on Wednesday afternoon. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) earlier said the 'super cyclone' is likely to weaken into an 'extremely severe storm' during the next six hours as it nears West Bengal and Bangladesh. In its previous update, IMD had said that the storm could make a landfall near Sundarbans today. However, in its latest report, the storm is expected to hit the eastern coast not before tomorrow.

IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said, "This is the most intense cyclone -- the second super cyclone -- which has been formed in the Bay of Bengal after 1999. Its wind speed in the sea right now is 200-240 kmph. It is moving towards north northwestward direction."

"It is very likely to weaken into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 6 hours. It is very likely to move north-northeastwards across northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal – Bangladesh coasts between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) close to Sundarbans during the Afternoon / Evening of 20th May 2020 as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 155-165 kmph gusting to 180 kmph," IMD said.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KDSMA) today said that thunderstorm with wind speed reaching up to 40 kmph accompanied by moderate rainfall in very likely to occur at one or two places in Alappuzha and Ernakulam districts. The cyclone is also likely to trigger moderate to heavy rain across Bihar in the next four days. According to daily weather bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday evening, the state is expected to witness thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty winds (30-60kmph) at isolated places from Tuesday till Friday. The intensity of thunderstorm activity is likely to increase on Wednesday.

"Cyclone Amphan is very likely to move north-northeastwards across northwest Bay of Bengal & cross West Bengal–Bangladesh coasts between Dig & Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) close to Sundarbans during afternoon/evening today as an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm," the Indian Meteorological Department said in its latest bulletin.

The extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Amphan' on Monday turned into a super cyclonic storm, only the second over the Bay of Bengal in two decades, and is spiralling towards Indian shores, prompting the West Bengal and Odisha governments to start evacuating people from vulnerable areas, officials said. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 37 teams in the coastal areas of the two states, its chief S N Pradhan said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and top government officials in New Delhi, as the impending super cyclone compounded worries at a time when it is grappling with mounting COVID-19 deaths and cases. In somewhat comforting news for the Centre and the state governments, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast that the storm will lose some of its intensity on the way and slam West Bengal as a very severe cyclonic storm during landfall between Digha in the state and Hatiya Islands in Bangladesh on Wednesday evening.

It will still have a maximum sustained wind speed of 165 to 175 kmph gusting up to 185 kmph, the weatherman said. Howling winds travelling at a speed of 220 to 230 kmph and gusting to 255 kmph were being witnessed over west-central and adjoining parts of south Bay of Bengal. It is likely to increase further to 230 to 240 kmph and gusting to 265 kmph by Monday night, IMDs Regional Director G K Das said in Kolkata.

The super cyclonic storm is however, now moving at a speed of seven kmph and lay centred about 730 km near south of Paradip in Odisha, 890 km south-southwest of Digha in West Bengal and 1010 km south-southwest of Khepupara in Bangladesh, said H R Biswas, director of the meteorological centre in Bhubaneswar.

An unspecified number of people were evacuated from coastal areas of Odisha where Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore were likely to experience heavy rainfall accompanied by high-velocity winds, particularly on May 19 and 20, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said. The Meteorological (MeT) Department, which has issued an "orange message" for West Bengal, warned of extensive damage in Kolkata, Hooghly, Howrah, South and North 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts.

Disruption of rail and road link are likely at several places but that will not have a major impact on human lives as only skeletal traffic ply the roads and railway tracks. Large-scale damage to communication and electricity lines, crops and houses is feared, official sources said.

Official reports reaching Kolkata said 40,000 people have already been evacuated from South 24 Parganas district. "Storm surge of 4 to 5 metres above astronomical tide is likely to inundate low lying areas of South and North 24 Parganas and about 3 to 4 metres over low lying areas of East Midnapore district of West Bengal during the time of landfall," Das said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured all possible central assistance to the states likely to be hit by the cyclone. "Reviewed the preparedness regarding the situation due to cyclone 'Amphan'. The response measures as well as evacuation plans were discussed. I pray for everyone's safety and assure all possible support from the Central Government," Modi tweeted soon after the meeting.

He also reviewed the evacuation plan presented by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said. "During the presentation of the response plan, DG NDRF (S N Pradhan) informed that 25 NDRF teams have been deployed on the ground while 12 others are ready in reserve. Twenty-four other NDRF teams are also on standby in different parts of the country," the statement said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in Kolkata that NDRF and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel were in a state of readiness to evacuate those who will be hit by the cyclone and also to reach relief. "We will be monitoring the situation for cyclone 'Amphan' 24X7. Chief secretary Rajiva Sinha, Home secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay and secretary disaster management will be monitoring the situation," she told reporters.

Cyclone 'Amphan' is only the second super cyclone over the Bay of Bengal after the one that savaged Odisha in 1999, claiming nearly 10,000 lives. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has already set a target of ensuring zero casualty. Chief Secretary A K Tripathy said the government is closely monitoring the situation and is in constant touch with 12 coastal districts to ensure foolproof arrangements.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea till May 21, Special Relief (SRC) P K Jena said. He said the evacuation exercise will be completed on Tuesday. People living within five km of the coastline and in vulnerable areas are also being evacuated.

Odisha Panchayati Raj Minister Pratap Jena said the state is prepared to evacuate 11 lakh to 12 lakh people. Jena said it will be done by strictly adhering to social distancing guidelines for COVID-19 pandemic. Pregnant women and ailing people will be shifted to hospitals, the SRC said.

He said of the 809 cyclone shelters in the 12 coastal districts, 211 are now being used as temporary medical camps for the returnees from different states amid the COVID-19 lockdown. Since the cyclone will take place in summer there is no fear of floods but several reservoirs have been asked to release water as precautionary measure, he added.




May 19, 2020
8:33 pm (IST)

ICG Issues Alerts in Odisha | Indian Coast Guard, through Remote Operating Station in Paradeep, is issuing alerts in Odisha over broadcast for merchant vessels, international vessels and fishing boats, asking them to stay away from sea. All other arrangements have been made by them in light of Cyclone Amphan.


May 19, 2020
8:05 pm (IST)

KoPT Stops Vessel Movement | As cyclone 'Amphan' nears the shores of West Bengal, the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) issues warnings to mariners and stops movement of all vessels to and from its docks to prevent any damage to port assets and merchant ships, says an official. The port authority has also asked ships anchored at the sandheads to take necessary measures to avoid any accident due to the storm


May 19, 2020
7:56 pm (IST)

Navy Dispatches Diving Team to Kolkata | As weather deteriorates view the forthcoming Super Cyclone  Amphan, a diving team from the Indian Navy arrives at Kolkata to provide assistance to the state government in relief operations. The diving team were flown in from Vizag by an Indian Navy Dornier and reached Kolkata at 12 noon. The team has brought specialised equipment along with them which can be used in case of rescue if flooding occurs and have been positioned at the Naval Service Selection Board at Diamond Harbour.


May 19, 2020
7:45 pm (IST)

Red Cross Carries Out Evacuation in WB, Odisha | As West Bengal and Odisha brace for a potentially disastrous cyclone in a few hours, the Red Cross Society is working in tandem with the local administration in high-alert districts to evacuate people to safer locations. Cyclone Amphan of 700 km width and 15 km height is slated to make landfall in West Bengal between Digha and Hatiya Island in Bangladesh on Wednesday afternoon and is likely to have a devastating impact. Rina Tripathi, Disaster Management Advisor at the Red Cross, says thousands of social emergency response volunteers and national disaster response members were on the ground to sensitize and mobilise people to go to safer places.

May 19, 2020
7:35 pm (IST)

Assam Issues 'High Alert' | The Assam government issues a "high alert" over cyclone 'Amphan' and directs the state disaster management authority to set up a control room to deal with the situation. Quoting the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna said there is a strong likelihood of widespread effect of the cyclone in Assam, especially in west Assam districts. He also directs officials concerned to keep the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) informed for their services whenever necessary.



May 19, 2020
7:15 pm (IST)

BJP national president JP Nadda holds a meeting with party's state presidents, state general secretaries and state general secretaries (org) of Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu today via video conferencing regarding Cyclone Amphan.


May 19, 2020
7:07 pm (IST)

Five ICG ships and aircraft have been kept at standby in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu for Search and Rescue operations post passage of the cyclone


May 19, 2020
7:05 pm (IST)

20 Disaster Relief Teams (DRT) with inflatable boats, Life buoys and life jackets has been kept standby by the ICG all along the East Coast for undertaking Disaster response operations. Medical teams and ambulances have also been kept standby for mobilisation.



May 19, 2020
7:02 pm (IST)

Indian Coast Guard Ready for Relief Ops | The Indian Coast Guard is ready in all respects to undertake Search and Rescue (SAR) and relief operations in the aftermath of the Super Cyclone Amphan. ICG has deployed about six ships and two Dornier aircraft every day since May 16 on the eastern seaboard to issue warnings in vernacular language to the fishermen and mariners at sea of the impending adverse weather condition due to the passage of 'Amphan' and requesting them to return to nearest ports for safety. The ICG has so far escorted more than 300 fishing boats operating at sea to nearest ports and no Merchant vessel at Port anchorages along the path of the cyclone


May 19, 2020
6:52 pm (IST)

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) asks occupants to vacate an old building in Bagbazar area in view of Cyclone Amphan



May 19, 2020
5:46 pm (IST)

READ | Cyclone Amphan Intensifies Further, Here Are The States Likely to be Affected
On Tuesday, Cyclone Amphan has been centred over the Bay of Bengal at a distance of about 520 km south of Paradip in Odisha, and 670 km south-southwest of Digha in West Bengal.




May 19, 2020
5:33 pm (IST)

Following preventive measures have been taken at Kolkata Port Trust (now being renamed as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust) including Haldia Dock Complex and Kolkata Dock System so as to prevent any damage to port property and merchant ships due to Cyclone Amphan.

1. All the 19 vessels at Sandheads anchorage have picked up their anchor and proceeded down to deep sea so as to avoid the path of the storm.

2. All cargo handling operation at Diamond Harbour and Sagar anchorage had been stopped and the vessels put out to sea.

3. All the barges have been told to move up to the sheltered water.

4. No ships have been kept at the oil jetties of Haldia and Baj Baj.

5. All movements of inward and outward vessels cancelled at Kolkata.

6. Movement of inbound and outbound vessels at HDC cancelled from PM today. In AM tide three ships sailed from Haldia and two ships were taken inside docks.

7. Pilot Vessel Ma Ganga and 4 Pilot Launches have been taken inside HDC as a precautionary measure.

8. All the vessels in the Docks have been instructed to secure with additional mooring ropes and lines. At present there are 15 merchant vessels at KDS, 6 at KPD and 9 at NSD. 11 merchant vessels are at  Haldia Docks.

9. All the port owned and hired utility crafts have been taken inside docks except for I tug and I launch at Kolkata will be at locks for exigency. Similarly at HDC tugs will be at locks for exigency.
  
10. Control Room have been set up at Subhas Bhavan, Sagar and at Jawahar Tower at Haldia for 24 hours monitoring


May 19, 2020
5:00 pm (IST)

BJP Chief JP Nadda on Amphan | Super Cyclone Amphan is heading towards coastal region of Orissa, West Bengal, partially touching Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. A clear directive has been given to BJP workers to cooperate with their administrations in relief operations and evacuation process of people: BJP chief JP Nadda.




May 19, 2020
4:53 pm (IST)

Slight Delay in Monsoon Expected in Kerala: IMD | We are expecting a slight delay in the arrival of monsoon in Kerala due to tropical cyclone. Monsoon is expected to hit Kerala coast by June 5, says IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.



May 19, 2020
4:47 pm (IST)

SMS alerts are being generated to people in affected districts, for evacuation. It is upto state government that in what frequency they want to send alerts. It's free of cost and will be sent in local languages. Intra-circle roaming will continue after cyclone crosses, says Telecom Secretary.



May 19, 2020
4:43 pm (IST)

Telecom service providers have been asked to arrange sufficient number of generator sets with enough diesel and station them in all districts so that if there is any power disruption, then the towers can be restarted with the help of these gen-sets, says Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash.



May 19, 2020
4:41 pm (IST)

On directions of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, four senior officers, with vast experience in handling such calamities, have been deputed to different districts in the state to supervise preparations and guide local administration, says Chief secretary, Odisha Govt