Cyclone Amphan LIVE Updates:

Cyclone Amphan LIVE Updates:

Cyclone Amphan live updates: Cyclonic storm claims four lives in West Bengal and Odisha

Extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Amphan' roared into West Bengal, making landfall at 2.30pm on Wednesday between Digha in the state and Hatiya island in Bangladesh, unleashing heavy rain and high-velocity winds that left a trail of destruction. Intense rainfall was also recorded in several areas of Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Ganjam, Ganjam, Bhadrak and Balasore districts of Odisha. Stay with TOI for all the latest updates:

18:31 (IST), MAY 20

2 killed in West Bengal

A woman died after a tree fell on her at Minakhan area. At Hawrah, a teenage girl died after being bit by a tin shed.

17:57 (IST), MAY 20

West Bengal: Teenage girl critically injured after being hit by a tin shed at Howrah

17:46 (IST), MAY 20

Visuals from Kachuberia area in West Bengal

17:34 (IST), MAY 20

Eye of storm over Gangasagar now, wind intensity 165kmph: IMD

17:20 (IST), MAY 20

Cyclone Amphan to completely enter land by 7 PM: IMD

Cyclone Amphan is currently crossing the West Bengal coast near the Sunderbans and will reach Kolkata by evening, IMD director general Mrutunjay Mohapatra said on Wednesday as the storm was making a landfall. He said strong winds with an intensity of 160kmph have commenced in coastal West Bengal districts. (PTI)

17:06 (IST), MAY 20

Breaches along the embankments at different parts of Sunderbans reported following the landfall of Cyclone Amphan

17:01 (IST), MAY 20

Wind speed in Kolkata and adjoining districts likely to be 110-120kmph, damages expected: IMD DG

17:00 (IST), MAY 20

Super Cyclone Amphan is crossing West Bengal coast between Digha and Hatiya close to Sunderbans. The forward sector of wall clouds has entered into the land. Landfall process will continue and take 2-3 hours to complete: IMD bulletin

Cyclone Amphan LIVE Updates:

16:59 (IST), MAY 20

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee discusses cyclone situation with chief secretary Rajiva Sinha at Nabanna control room

16:54 (IST), MAY 20

Kolkata witnesses strong winds at 72kmph due to the effect of Cyclone Amphan landfall

16:52 (IST), MAY 20

Eye of the cyclonic storm 'Amphan' makes landfall in West Bengal

16:50 (IST), MAY 20

South and North 24 Parganas to witness lull as eye of cyclone passes through, but heavy rains, strong winds will resume in 30 minutes: IMD

16:41 (IST), MAY 20

Bhadrak and Balasore districts in Odisha will continue to have damaging impact for 2-3 more hours: IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra

16:40 (IST), MAY 20

First arm of Cyclone Amphan has touched the land. The eye of cyclone is expected to touch the land anytime now: IMD DG

16:39 (IST), MAY 20

Strong winds have commenced in coastal West Bengal. We are getting reports that wind speed could be around 160kmph: IMD DG

16:37 (IST), MAY 20

The National Disaster Response Force has deployed 20 teams in Odisha; 19 deployed in West Bengal, two on standby: NDRF chief SN Pradhan

16:35 (IST), MAY 20

Cyclone Amphan will reach near Kolkata by Wednesday evening: IMD

16:28 (IST), MAY 20

Cyclone Amphan currently entering West Bengal coast near Sunderbans, reports PTI quoting IMD

16:27 (IST), MAY 20

The ongoing load capacity test work of RG Kar Bridge have been deferred in view of Cyclone Amphan landfall

16:27 (IST), MAY 20

The ongoing load capacity test work of RG Kar Bridge have been deferred in view of Cyclone Amphan landfall

16:25 (IST), MAY 20

Kolkata witnesses Cyclone Amphan's fury

16:18 (IST), MAY 20

Cyclone Amphan leaves trail of destruction in northern part of Odisha

Super Cyclone Amphan left a trail of destruction in Odisha on Wednesday as it moved towards West Bengal grazing the northern part of the state to make landfall close to Sundarbans between Digha in West Bengal and Hatiya in Bangladesh.

Cyclone Amphan LIVE Updates:

16:16 (IST), MAY 20

Based on experiences during cyclone 'Fani', all the teams are equipped with tree cutters/pole cutters for post-landfall restoration, if need arises: NDRF chief

16:15 (IST), MAY 20

More than 5 Lakh people have been evacuated in West Bengal and 1,58,640 people in Odisha: NDRF chief SN Pradhan

16:12 (IST), MAY 20

Trees uprooted in some parts of Kolata due to strong winds

16:09 (IST), MAY 20

Balasore district's Chandipur area witnesses rainfall and strong winds

16:03 (IST), MAY 20

Strong winds with speed exceeding 45kmph lash parts of the Hooghly district

16:02 (IST), MAY 20

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee monitors the situation from the control room at state secretariat

15:27 (IST), MAY 20

Cyclone Amphan: Over 1,600 pregnant women shifted to hospitals in Odisha

Giving highest priority to the safety of pregnant women in view of the cyclonic storm Amphan amidst the fight against coronavirus, the state government has shifted over 1,600 such women, specially those in advanced stages of pregnancy, to various hospitals in eight coastal and adjoining districts.

15:19 (IST), MAY 20

Cyclone only 100km from West Bengal's Digha

The "extremely severe" cyclonic storm Amphan is only 100km from Digha in West Bengal, where it is slated to make a landfall in a few hours, and is whirling at a speed of at least 160 km per hour gusting to 180 kmp. (IANS)

15:14 (IST), MAY 20

Landfall process commenced since 2.30pm, it will continue for about 4 hours.

15:09 (IST), MAY 20

West Bengal-bound special train from Himachal Pradesh cancelled due to cyclone 'Amphan'

A West Bengal-bound special train scheduled to depart from Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday was cancelled due to the forecast of cyclonic storm 'Amphan' making landfall there, a senior official said. The train was supposed to ferry over 1,000 people of West Bengal stranded in HP due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown. Una deputy commissioner Sandeep Kumar said the special train scheduled to depart on May 20 from the Amb railway station for Howrah was cancelled due to the forecast of the cyclone.

15:00 (IST), MAY 20

At least 12 NDRF teams have also been kept on stand-by as the cyclonic storm is likely to hit a large part of the coastal districts with "very heavy rainfall".

14:59 (IST), MAY 20

At least seven National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed in six West Bengal districts, including East Midnapore, West Midnapore, South 24-Parganas, North 24-Parganas, Hooghly and Howrah.

14:59 (IST), MAY 20

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has formed a task force, spearheaded by state chief secretary Rajiva Sinha, which is monitoring the relief and rescue operations in cyclone Amphan.

14:57 (IST), MAY 20

West Bengal disaster management authorities are keeping a closed watch on the situation. A control room has been opened at the state Secretariat Nabanno.

14:40 (IST), MAY 20

Vehicular traffic on flyovers stopped as Amphan nears Kolkata

All flyovers and elevated corridors were closed to vehicular traffic in Kolkata in view of the approaching 'extremely heavy cyclonic storm' Amphan, expected to make landfall somewhere between East Midnapore's Digha and Hatiya Island in Bangladesh on Wednesday. The landfall is expected between afternoon and evening. Police sources said that all flyovers have been barricades with guardrails. Movement of vehicles was suspended on AJC Bose, Maa and Park Street flyovers in the state capital. (IANS)

14:20 (IST), MAY 20

Super cyclone to move north-northeastwards and cross West Bengal-Bangladesh coast between Digha and Hatiya close to Sunderbans during the late afternoon to evening hours (4pm onwards) with a wind speed of 155-165kmph gusting to 185kmph: IMD

14:18 (IST), MAY 20

West Bengal: Villagers in Jogeshganj, North 24 Paraganas being shifted to a shelter, as cyclone Amphan nears

13:57 (IST), MAY 20

'Amphan' is likely to make a landfall somewhere between Digha and Hatiya islands in Bangladesh close to the Sunderbans, a Unesco world heritage site, between afternoon and evening of Wednesday, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

13:56 (IST), MAY 20

Intense rainfall was recorded in several areas of Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Ganjam, Ganjam, Bhadrak and Balasore districts since Tuesday.

13:28 (IST), MAY 20

Super cyclone Amphan is currently moving at a speed of around 26 kmph, it's brewing in the Bay of Bengal lay 190km of south Kolkata. The cyclonic storm is likely to cross Bengal and Bangladesh coast near Sunderbans post 4pm.

13:16 (IST), MAY 20

The cyclone has advanced by 25km south-southeast of Digha in the past one hour. Windspeed in Kolkata has reduced by 3kmph to 19kmph. Rainfall in Kolkata since 8.30am is 7.4mm

13:12 (IST), MAY 20

About 4.5 lakh evacuated from Odisha, West Bengal ahead of Amphan landfall, says NDRF DG

About 4.5 lakh people have been evacuated from the vulnerable area in West Bengal and Odisha ahead of the landfall of cyclonic storm 'Amphan', NDRF chief S N Pradhan said on Wednesday. 'Amphan', termed as an extremely severe cyclonic storm, is expected to make landfall on Wednesday noon or evening at a coastal area between West Bengal and Bangladesh.

13:07 (IST), MAY 20

Cyclone 'Amphan' about 170 km south of West Bengal's Digha

Cyclone 'Amphan' lay centred about 170 km south of West Bengal's Digha as an extremely severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal and is likely to make landfall near Sunderbans between Wednesday afternoon and evening, the Met department said. 'Amphan' is likely to move north-northeastwards after landfall and pass close to Kolkata in its eastern side, causing extensive damage and flooding of low-lying areas in the city, the weather office said.