A cyclonic storm brewing in the Bay of Bengal, 1,220 km south-southwest of Digha in West Bengal, is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rain in the coastal districts of Odisha from May 19. Under its impact, districts of Gangetic West Bengal, including North and South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, East and West Midnapore, Howrah and Hooghly will experience heavy to very heavy rain. Odisha state government has geared up for rescue and relief operations, with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik setting a 'zero casualty' goal for cyclone Amphan.
What is the trajectory of the storm?
According to the latest India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin, the deep depression over Southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood remained practically stationary during on Saturday evening and rapidly intensified into the cyclonic storm. It lay centred over the same region at 5.30pm on Saturday near latitude 10.9N and longitude 86.3E, about 1,040 km south of Paradip (Odisha), 1,200 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal) and 1300 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh). The cyclone is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm on Sunday, and into a very severe cyclonic storm by May 18 morning.
It is very likely to move north-northwestwards initially till May 17 and then recurve north-northeastwards across northwest Bay of Bengal towards West Bengal and adjoining North Odisha coasts during May 18 to 20.
CM Patnaik reviews preparedness
Patnaik reviewed the state's preparedness to face the cyclone. "As always, saving lives is our priority. We should put our best efforts to save every precious human life," Patnaik told top officials and collectors of the 12 districts, which are put on alert following the IMDs forecast. He had a video conference with the district collectors of Ganjam, Gajapti, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khurda and Nayagarh.
Patnaik also directed the district collectors to prepare an evacuation plan keeping in view the IMD's forecast and shift people living in low-laying areas, and also from thatched and mud houses, in order to save their lives during the possible calamity.
Odisha is a state that has continually faced ravaging hurricanes in the past. The threat of the fresh cyclone, comes a year after cyclone 'Fani' barrelled through vast parts of Odisha on May 3, 2019, claiming at least 64 lives and destroying infrastructure in power, telecom and other vital sectors. Odisha was also hit by cyclone 'Bulbul' in October, 2019.
With regard to the impact on the Odisha coast, the IMD issued yellow warning (asking public to be updated) and forecast squally wind speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely to commence along and off south Odisha coast from May 18 evening. The IMD also issued an orange warning (asking public to be prepared) for the state, saying squally wind speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely along and off the Odisha coast from May 19 morning.
West Bengal Home secretary Alapan Bandopdhyay said that the entire state machinery is prepared to deal with the situation. Disaster management teams are being sent to cyclone shelters in the coastal areas and other places for rescue and relief operations, he said. Bandopadhyay said that provisions have been made for maintaining social distancing norms at these shelters in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are also there for rescue and relief operations.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into North Bay of Bengal along and off West Bengal-Odisha coasts from May 18 to 21 and those who are out in the sea were asked to return to coasts by May 17.
-Inputs from PTI