Millions of people in the coastal Odisha districts are waiting nervously to face the very severe cyclonic storm Yaas, which is set to hit the coast with wind speed reaching between 155-165 kmph early Wednesday morning.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the cyclone was moving north-northwest and would intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours. It is likely to make a landfall near north Odisha coast very close to the Chandbali-Dhamra port.
Gale winds reaching 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph prevailed over the major parts of the central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Bay of Bengal. They increased gradually to 125-135 kmph gusting to 140 kmph from Tuesday evening.
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According to the IMD, the wind speed would further increase to 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph over northwest Bay of Bengal and along and off north Odisha and adjoining West Bengal coasts including Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Bhadrak, from early morning of May 26.
The system will extend to Balasore district of Odisha from the forenoon of May 26, with wind speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph over Mayurbhanj district from early morning of May 26.
Tidal waves
Tidal waves with a height 2-4 metres are likely to inundate low lying areas of Balasore and Bhadrak and about 2 metres above tide are likely to hit sea side areas of Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts around the time of landfall.
Also read: Cyclone Yaas: Army, Navy deploy relief teams in West Bengal
“We had started the process of evacuation from Monday. As of now, more than 2.5 lakh people have been evacuated. People are also showing interest to get shifted to safer places. The evacuation is going on,” said Pradeep Kumar Jena, Special Relief Commissioner, at a press conference here.
According to the State SRC, 860 permanent shelters and 6,031 additional shelters which collectively could accommodate 7.5 lakh people have been identified.
The government said it was prepared for landfall near Bhitarakanika, Dhamra and Chandbali. It brought new areas such as parts of Dhenkanal, Angul and Sundargarh districts under its disaster management operation as precautionary measure. The original focus was on Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Jajpur districts.
The State government had identified 4,500 pregnant women in the cyclone-affected areas. Of them, 400 were shifted to shelters while another 400 had already delivered babies. The majority of women wanted to stay back in their concrete houses.
Reviewing the preparedness, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, “The policy of our government is that every life is precious and all possible steps should be taken to protect life.” He sought the cooperation of the people in the evacuation.
Drinking water tanks filled up
This Monday, May, 24, 2021, satellite image provided by NASA shows Cyclone Yaas approaching India's eastern coast. Yaas is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, and was forecast to hit West Bengal and Odisha, just days after a powerful storm Cyclone Tauktae battered the western coast.
More than 4,000 personnel in 52 units of the National Disaster Response Force, 60 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, 200 fire service teams and 86 tree cutting units have been pressed into service.
All overhead drinking water tanks have been filled up and power back-up machines pre-positioned at different localities. The Energy department has also deployed men and machineries in various districts for early restoration of power.
