An extremely severe cyclone packing winds of up to 190 kmph roared into West Bengal on May 20, dumping heavy rain and leaving a trail of destruction that left at least two people dead, officials said.
After making landfall at 2.30 p.m. between Digha in West Bengal and and Hatiya island in Bangladesh, cyclone Amphan cut a swathe through the coastal areas, flattening fragile dwellings, uprooting trees and electric poles. At least 6.58 lakh people were evacuated in West Bengal and Odisha before the cyclone struck.
Here are the latest updates:
Unintended beneficiaries of Amphan in Odisha
Super cyclone Amphan may have driven a vast majority of people and the governments of two States into a frenzy. But there have been unintended beneficiaries too.
Also read: Amphan: Heavy rain, wind hit coastal districts of Odisha
Hundreds of people, who had recently returned from other States and were required to undergo 21 days of mandatory institutional quarantine to prevent COVID-19 pandemic spread, were sent home prematurely.
Trees fall like ninepins as cyclone Amphan strikes Kolkata
Kolkata witnessed one of its most severe cyclones in many decades on Wednesday. The Alipore Meteorological office said that, under the impact of cyclone Amphan, the wind speed was 90 km per hour (kmph) on an average and over 110 kmph in Alipore. In many areas, the wind uprooted trees, damaged houses and snapped power lines.
The city, especially the green sections of south Kolkata, presented a macabre sight on Wednesday evening. Almost every road was blocked by fallen trees. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s administrator Firhad Hakim said they would assess the situation shortly, but it appeared that hundreds of trees had been uprooted. Mr. Hakim promised that city will be back on its feet in 48 hours.
Cyclone Amphan | At least 10-12 feared killed as of now: Mamata
At least 10-12 persons are feared killed as of Wednesday night, said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
“Entire south Bengal is hit. South Bengal is finished. I would request [the Centre] to provide humanitarian relief and not to engage in any politics,” said Ms. Banerjee.
Venkaiah Naidu expresses concern over Cyclone Amphan
Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu expressed concern over the situation arising out of Cyclone Amphan in West Bengal and Odisha. The Vice-President’s Secretariat tweeted saying Mr. Naidu has expressed concern over the situation arising out of the cyclone.
According to latest reports, an extremely severe cyclone packing winds of up to 190 kmph roared into West Bengal on May 20, dumping heavy rain and leaving a trail of destruction that left at least two people dead.
“He spoke to the Union Minister Babul Supriyo, and Rajya Sabha MPs Manas Ranjan Bhunia & Sukhendu Sekhar Roy to ascertain the impact in West Bengal following the landfall of the cyclone,” the VP Secretariat said.
Over 5 lakh people evacuated in West Bengal, more than 1.58 lakh in Odisha
After making landfall at 2.30 p.m. between Digha in West Bengal and and Hatiya island in Bangladesh, cyclone Amphan cut a swathe through the coastal areas, flattening fragile dwellings, uprooting trees and electric poles. At least 6.58 lakh people were evacuated in West Bengal and Odisha before the cyclone struck.
“The forward sector of the wall cloud region is entering into land in West Bengal. The intensity of the cyclone near its centre as the landfall process started was recorded at 160-170 kmph, gusting to 190 kmph,” the weather department said.
In pictures: Cyclone Amphan makes landfall
Two women were killed in Howrah district and Minakhan area of North 24 Parganas district due to uprooting of trees, an official said.
NDRF chief S.N. Pradhan told a press conference in New Delhi that 20 teams of the federal disaster response force had already begun road clearing operations in Odisha, while the 19 units deployed in West Bengal were shifting people to safety.
Cyclone Amphan crosses West Bengal coast
Cyclone Amphan crossed West Bengal-Bangladesh coast between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) across Sunderbans near latitude 21.65N & longitude 88.3E between 1530 & 1730 hrs IST of 20th May with wind speed of 155-165 gusting to 185 kmph, the IMD said in a tweet.
Forecast movment, intensity and landfall
According to the IMD, the system is very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards with a wind speed of 140-150 kmph gusting to 165 kmph during next 2 hours.
The wind speed of 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph likely to prevail over Howrah, Hoogli and Kolkata districs during next 2 hours and decrease thereafter.
The wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph over west Medinipur, Vardhman and Murshidavad during next 2 hours and decrease thereafter.
Wind forecast for coastal Odisha
60 to 90 kmph along and off over Balasore district during next 3 hours.
40 NDRF teams deployed in Odisha, West Bengal; 24 on standby
All 20 units of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) stationed in Odisha have been deployed in the State, while as many units have been pressed into service in West Bengal for relief and rescue efforts in the wake of Cyclone Amphan, NDRF Director General S.N. Pradhan said.
The NDRF chief said its teams have to now function keeping in mind the COVID-19 threat and are equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE).
Over five lakh people have been evacuated in West Bengal while over 1.58 lakh have been taken to safety in Odisha, Pradhan said quoting data provided by the state governments,
He said 20 teams have been deployed in West Bengal, including one team for urban areas of Kolkata, while another unit has been kept in reserve.
The DG said all 20 teams present in Odisha have been deployed leaving none in reserve.
An NDRF team comprises around 45 personnel.
Cyclone Amphan claims two lives in West Bengal: officials
Two deaths have been reported in West Bengal due to Cyclone Amphan. The deceased have been identified as 13-year-old girl in Howrah and 57-year-old women in Minakha North 24 Parganas. — Shiv Sahay Singh, Kolkata
Cyclone Amphan to completely enter land by 7 p.m.
Cyclone Amphan is currently crossing the West Bengal coast near the Sunderbans and will reach Kolkata by evening, IMD Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said as the storm was making a landfall.
He said strong winds with an intensity of 160 kilometres per hour have commenced in coastal West Bengal districts.
“The first arm of Cyclone Amphan has touched the land. The eye of the cyclone is expected to touch land anytime,” he said.
“Landfall process started at 2.30 p.m. with the entry of the front sector of the wall cloud region,” he said.
The width of the wall cloud is around 120 kilometres and the diameter of the eye is about 40 kilometres. The rear side is about 120 kilometres and the entire process will be completed by 3-4 hours.
South and North 24 Parganas will witness a lull as the eye of cyclone passes through, but heavy rains, strong winds will resume in the next 30 minutes.
“We are hopeful that by 7 p.m. the entire cyclone will enter the land,” he added.
Mr. Mohapatra also asserted that the forecast of the cyclone was accurate.
India has also been issuing cyclone warning to Bangladesh, he added.
Situation related to Cyclone Amphan fast transforming: NDRF DG
“The situation is fast-transforming. Our duty becomes even more now and after the cyclone. It is a long haul,” National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director General S.N. Pradhan said, adding that the NDRF is keeping a close watch on cyclone Amphan.
“All teams have wireless and satellite communications. We are not dependent on any communication system. It is another form of new normal, we have to handle disasters considering the pandemic too. In view of the prevailing COVID-19 scenario, all teams are equipped with PPE,” the NDRF DG said.
Mr. Pradhan said deployment is more in districts which are facing more pressure.
He said the NDRF’s headquarters and local commandants are in coordination with state authorities.
“Based on experiences during Cyclone FANI, all the teams are equipped with tree cutters and pole cutters for post landfall restoration, if the need arises,” Mr. Pradhan said.
Policeman braves torrential rain to perform duty
Policeman Muzaffar Mondal braves the downpour due to Cyclone Amphan and stands guard on the Kolkata's arterial Red Road to perform his duty.
Lone policeman Muzaffar Mondal, belonging to the South Traffic Guard, stands guard on the city's arterial Red Roadeven as the wind velocity was increasing.
"My job is to ensure that guard rails and road-dividers are not swept off by storm and thrown on the road. I am trying to keep the track clean," a duty-conscious Mr. Mondal said, braving the heavy downpour. — Suvojit Bagchi, Kolkata
The eye of Cyclone is just about to touch land, says IMD
Maximum intensity of rains in WB today. Rains to subside from tomorrow. Storm surges upto 5m expected.
We expect windspeed of 165 kmph in South and North 24 Parganas, WB.
Amphan is entering West Bengal, near the Sunderbans. It's trajectory is conforming to what we had predicted, says M Mohapatra, DG, IMD.
Impact of Cyclone waa felt in Odisha from yesterday. Today 106 kmph winds were registered in Odisha. Heavy rains registered in Balasore. It's now 360 km south of Paradip, 510 km south-southwest of Digha.
We expect windspeed of 165 kmph in South and North 24 Parganas, WB. Gusting to 185 kmph.
The eye of Cyclone is just about to touch land.
Cyclone Amphan uproots trees, flattens houses in Odisha
Cyclone “Amphan” left a trail of destruction in Odisha as it triggered heavy downpour coupled with high-velocity winds while hurtling towards the West Bengal coast, uprooting trees and flattening fragile structures, officials said.
More than 1.41 lakh people living in low-lying areas and thatched and mud houses in the vulnerable coastal regions were evacuated and shifted to cyclone shelters, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), P.K. Jena said.
The evacuees were accommodated in 2,921 shelters where cooked food and other facilities were provided, he said, adding that the cyclone developed and moved as per the IMD forecast.
“It took exactly the path forecast by them. I must thank the IMD, particularly its Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, as their accurate predictions enabled us handle the situation ably,” the SRC said.
Intense rainfall in several areas of Odisha
As the cyclone passed along the Odisha coast, it unleashed intense rainfall in several areas of Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Ganjam, Bhadrak and Balasore districts since Tuesday.
Though two deaths were reported in Kendrapara and Bhadrak during the cyclone, the exact reasons are being ascertained, officials said.
A three-month-old child died in Tihidi area of Bhadrak and a team has been sent to the village, they said, adding the exact cause will be ascertained after an autopsy.
A 67-year-old woman died in her house due to natural causes. She was living in a pucca RCC roof house and the cause of death is being ascertained, they added.
Kendrapara Collector Samarth Verma said ₹12,000 was given as immediate relief and detailed inquiry will be conducted.
As per initial reports, a large number of trees and electric poles have been uprooted, while many thatched and mud houses were flattened due to the cyclonic storm, the SRC said.
No major damage has been done to the telecommunications infrastructure and the services remained by and large unaffected, he said.
The process of landfall has begun, says Directer General, NDRF.
As many as 20 teams in Odisha and 19 in West Bengal have been stationed. All teams have wireless and satellites communications. A special team is in Kolkata, being a major urban centre, he says.
All teams are equipped with tree cutters and pole cutters, he adds.
Over 5 lakh have been evacuated in Bengal, while 158640 people are in camps in Odisha. Several awareness activities are in progress in both these States.
Observed and forecast track of cyclone Amphan
Cyclone Amphan has commenced 'landfall', says an afternoon update by the IMD. The process will take four hours.
The forward structure of cyclone has made the landfall near Sagar Island in Sunderbans, according to Regional Meteorological Centre, Alipore, Kolkata.
The wind speed in the Sunderbans is about 140 kmph, while the wind speed in Kolkata is 70 kmph.
Bangladesh shifts over two million people
Bangladesh has shifted over two million people to storm shelters and deployed its military to deal with cyclone ‘Amphan’. Authorities have already raised the alert level to ‘great danger’ for some districts in the country.
The Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force have made preparations to tackle the super cyclone which has moved within 400km of Bangladesh’s coast and is expected to make landfall on Wednesday evening. - PTI
Bhubaneswar-New Delhi special AC train to run through diverted route
The AC Special Express train which left for New Delhi from Bhubaneswar on Wednesday will run on a diverted route skipping the Bhadrak-Kharagpr line, while goods traffic was affected in Odisha because of the cyclone.
The train took the diverted route of Sambalpur City- Jharsugud-Rourkela-Tatanagar instead of the normal route via Bhadrak-Balasore-Hijli Kharagpur-Tata, a railway official said.
Similarly, inward goods traffic was stopped to Dhamra Port. Outward goods traffic from Dhamra Port was also suspended after departure of the last goods train to Tatanagar on Tuesday. - PTI
Amid chaos of cyclone Amphan in Odisha, woman gives birth to baby in fire service van
A woman gave birth to a baby girl inside a fire service van while being shifted to hospital in Odisha’s Kendrapara district, which recorded heavy and strong winds under the impact of super cyclone ‘Amphan’ on Wednesday morning
The dramatic scenes of the woman being rescued, clearing of a road that was blocked by fallen trees and admission of the mother and baby in a hospital were shot by Odisha fire service personnel, who played a key role in the rescue act.
About 4.5 lakh people evacuated from Odisha, WB
Heavy rains lash Kolkata.
Heavy rains lash Kolkata.
About 4.5 lakh people have been evacuated from vulnerable area in West Bengal and Odisha ahead of the landfall of cyclonic storm ‘Amphan’, NDRF chief S.N. Pradhan said on Wednesday.
Issuing a video message update, the chief of the the federal contingency force said rescue forces and administration are concerned and geared to tackle a storm surge or tidal waves up to 4-6 metres high as it is a new moon night or ‘amavasya’.
As per data received from the state governments, he added, about 1.20-1.25 lakh people have been evacuated in Odisha and about 3.30 lakh in West Bengal in view of the cyclone. - PTI
Amphan to make landfall in hours, remain over gangetic WB till Thursday morning
Super cyclone Amphan is likely to make a landfall along the West Bengal coast in the next few hours, officials of Regional Meteorological Centre at Alipore said on Wednesday.
“The landfall of the cyclonic storm is likely to be in afternoon evening close to the Sunderbans. After landfall it will move north and north east direction and will pass over eastern parts of Kolkata,” Sanjib Bandyopadhyay, Deputy Director General of Meteorology Regional Meteorological Centre in Alipore, said.
He said that after the landfall the cyclonic storm will remain over gangetic West Bengal in different intensities till Thursday morning.
Kolkata witnessed heavy and continuous downpour since Wednesday afternoon. Streets remain deserted as annoucements continue to be made requesting people to stay indoors.
Landfall to commence from afternoon
Fire Services team clear a blocked road near Bhadrak, Odisha, to facilitate movement of vehicles, essential commodities and emergency service personnels.
Fire Services team clear a blocked road near Bhadrak, Odisha, to facilitate movement of vehicles, essential commodities and emergency service personnels.
Cyclone Amphan is 125 km south-southeast of Digha in West Bengal, according to the latest update from IMD at 11.30 a.m.
It is expected to cross West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts between Digha in West Bengal and Hatiya Islands in Bangladesh, close to Sunderbans.
The landfall process will commence from afternoon, said the update.
Heavy downpour, high velocity winds pound Odisha
As cyclone “Amphan” hurtled towards the coast, heavy downpour coupled with high velocity winds pounded coastal Odisha, uprooting trees and flattening fragile structures, officials said on Wednesday.
More than 1.25 lakh people have so far been evacuated from low-lying coastal areas and the process of evacuation was still underway in some places like Balasore on Wednesday morning, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), P.K. Jena, said.
Water rises in Baitarani river due to high tide as cyclone Amphan approaches Odisha-Bengal coast
Amphan likely to bring isolated rain to coastal A.P.
Even as the super cyclonic storm Amphan spared the State, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam are likely to experience isolated heavy falls under its influence during the next 24 hours, the meteorology officials said on Tuesday.
The weather system over the Bay of Bengal moved north-east wards and lay centred as an extremely severe cyclonic storm 360 km off Paradip in Odisha and 510 km off Digha in West Bengal on Tuesday.
Rapid response teams to keep eye on tiger movement in Sundarbans
With cyclone ‘Amphan’ set to lash the coastal areas of West Bengal on Wednesday, the State Forest department on Tuesday formed rapid response teams to ensure that tigers from Sundarbans in South 24 Parganas district do not stray into nearby human settlements after the landfall.
Chief Wildlife Warden Ravi Kant Sinha said a control room had been set up at Gosaba in the district to monitor the situation in the mangrove jungles 24x7.
Though a thorough assessment of damage caused by the cyclone is to be made, there are reports of many trees being uprooted from different areas of Odisha.
Trees were uprooted in the heavy winds as cyclone Amphan hits the coast near Chandabali in Bhadrak district of Odisha
Cargo flight operations at Kolkata Airport suspended till 5 a.m. Thursday
Cargo and evacuation flight operations at the Kolkata airport have been suspended till 5 am of Thursday due to the cyclonic storm ‘Amphan’, airport officials said.
“Due to the cyclone, flight operations at Kolkata airport has been suspended till 5 am of May 21,” a senior airport official said.
The cyclone lay centred about 240 km south of Digha in West Bengal on Wednesday morning as an extremely severe cyclonic storm, the Met department said here.
Howrah-New Delhi AC Special Express cancelled
The departure of Howrah-New Delhi AC Special Express for Wednesday has been cancelled owing to the super cyclone ‘Amphan’, the Eastern Railway said here.
It said that since the system is most likely to cause heavy rain and storm, the departure of 02301 Howrah-New Delhi AC Special Express on Wednesday and 02302 New Delhi-Howrah AC Special Express on May 21 would remain cancelled.
The Met department in an advisory asked for stoppage or diversion of train movements owing to damage likely to be caused by the super cyclonic storm. - PTI
Did the coronavirus lockdown have an impact on the cyclone?
Higher than normal temperatures in the Bay of Bengal (BoB) may be whetting ‘super cyclones’ and the lockdown, indirectly, may have played a role, meteorologists and atmospheric science experts told The Hindu .
A researcher said the elevated ocean temperatures this year could, in part, be explained by the lockdown. Reduced particulate matter emissions during the lockdown meant fewer aerosols, such as black carbon, that are known to reflect sunlight and heat away from the surface.
Migrant trains to Bengal, Odisha cancelled in view of cyclone
As a precautionary measure in the backdrop of ‘Amphan’ cyclone, the Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced that three Shramik Special trains for West Bengal and Odisha have been cancelled till May 21.
These trains were to carry migrant workers to West Bengal and Odisha. Further announcement regarding running these trains will be taken after assessing the weather and other necessary conditions, said an official. - PTI
(With inputs from Agencies)
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