Cyclone Yaas highlights: Flight operations at Kolkata airport to be suspended tomorrow

A powerful cyclone headed for West Bengal and Odisha, forcing the evacuation of nearly 20 lakh people just a week after cyclone Tauktae claimed at least 155 lives on the west coast. Cyclone Yaas in the Bay of Bengal is expected to slam into West Bengal and Odisha states around midday on Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department said and could bring winds of up to 165 kilometres (100 miles) per hour. Stay tuned to DH for more updates.

CM Nitish Kumar chairs meeting on cyclone Yaas, tells officials to remain alert

Chairing a virtual meeting with officials of disaster management and other departments and also district magistrates, the chief minister told them to make all arrangements in advance to meet the challenges of the very severe cyclonic storm likely to make landfall near Dhamra Port in Odisha's Bhadrak district early Wednesday morning.

Read more

Flight operations at Kolkata airport will be suspended from 8.30 am to 7.45 pm on Wednesday - PTI

Eastern Railway cancels Malda-Balurghat passenger special on May 26 and May 27.

(ANI)

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik asks officials to take all possible steps to save lives.

(ANI)

Vehicles ply on the Rabindra Setu amid rains owing to cyclone Yaas, in Howrah, Tuesday, May 25, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

Jharkhand evacuation operations on in districts like East Singhbhum in view of severe cyclonic storm Yaas

(PTI)

Odisha people pin hopes on mangrove forest to get saved from Cyclone Yaas

After it was known that Cyclone Yaas will hit Bhitarkania National Park in Kendrapara district close to Dhamra port in Odisha, local people exude optimism that the rich mangrove forest cover along the wetland sites of the park would again turn into a saviour for them.

(PTI)

Indian Army's Eastern Command spearheads response for rescue and relief operations in West Bengal in preparations for cyclone Yaas, which is likely to make landfall on May 26. Credit: PIB

Cyclone Yaas intensifies into 'very severe cyclonic storm': IMD DG M Mohapatra

(ANI)

In view of cyclone Yaas, 11.5 lakh people have been evacuated; 40 houses damaged in Halisahar with 4-5 people injured; 40 houses damaged in Chuchura, while two people have died due to lightning in Pandua: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at a presser in Nabanna

In view of the weather warning by IMD, flight operations at Kolkata airport will be suspended from 8:30 am till 7:45 pm of May 26, according to the airport administration.

(ANI)

Vaccination drive on May 26 has been rescheduled to May 29 in all centres under Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) area due to Cyclone Yaas. Citizens who have booked their appointment for May 26 can take vaccines on May 29 with the same appointment slip: BMC

(ANI)

A train compartment chained to the track at the Sealdah Railway Station yard ahead of the landfall of Cyclone Yaas, in Kolkata, Tuesday, May 25, 2021.

Credit: PTI Photo

Vessels moved, oil and gas installations in survival mode

Ships at anchorage have been asked to move to a safer area in the sea while oil and gas installations will go into 'survival' mode as they brace for cyclone Yaas to make landfall at north Odisha-West Bengal coast.

Read more

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reviews preparedness on cyclone Yaas and Covid-19 via video conferencing, in Patna.

Follow live updates on the coronavirus pandemic on DH here

Rough sea in the Bay of Bengal ahead of Cyclone 'Yaas' landfall, at Digha in East Midnapore district, Tuesday, May 25, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

Two electrocuted in Bengal during tornado: Mamata Banerjee

17 integrated Cyclone Relief Columns of Army, comprising specialised personnel with associated equipment & inflatable boats, deployed. Columns prepositioned at Purulia, Jhargram, Birbhum, Bardhaman, West Midnapur, Howrah, Hoogly, Nadia, 24 Parganas North & South: Defence Ministry

(ANI)

Odisha govt says it has moved over 2 lakh people from vulnerable areas in coastal districts to safety.

(PTI)

Bengal, Odisha evacuate lakhs to safety as cyclone Yaas nears coast

West Bengal and Odisha have evacuated lakhs of people from vulnerable areas to safety as severe cyclonic storm 'Yaas' is nearing the coast and is expected to make landfall near Dhamra Port in Bhadrak district early on Wednesday morning.

Read more

Mamata Banerjee briefs media on cyclone Yaas

Over 9 lakh people evacuated to safe shelters in West Bengal: CM Mamata Banerjee.

Storm clouds hover over the Royal Palace ahead of cycloneYaasin Agartala, Tuesday, May 25, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

No possibility of Amphan-like situation in Kolkata; it will experience maximum windspeed of 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph during landfall: Regional Met Centre official.

(PTI)

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel walk along a village urging the villagers to evacuate and shift to a safer place before the landfall of cyclone “Yaas” in Digha about 190 kms west of Kolkata on May 25, 2021. Credit: AFP Photo

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visits the control room set up to monitor the situation of cyclone Yaas at Nabanna in Kolkata, Tuesday, May 25, 2021.

(PTI Photo)

Bengal, Odisha evacuate lakhs of people to safety

West Bengal and Odisha have evacuated lakhs of people from vulnerable areas to safety as severe cyclonic storm 'Yaas' is nearing the coast and is expected to make landfall near Dhamra Port in Bhadrak district early on Wednesday morning.

Neighbouring Jharkhand has also sounded an alert and is preparing for the cyclone's impact.

(PTI)

Telecom industry body TAIPA on Tuesday said the association and its members are in a state of readiness to mitigate the impact of Cyclone Yaas on telecom infrastructure in West Bengal and Odisha, adding that teams have been deployed to deal with any outage and restore connectivity.

(ANI)

Villagers rest at a shelter as Cyclone Yaas barrels towards India's eastern coast in the Bay of Bengal, where is expected to make a landfall tomorrow, in Digha some 190 Km from Kolkata on May 25, 2021. Credit: AFP Photo

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik reviews the preparedness for cycloneYaas in the state via video conferencing

(ANI)

Severe Cyclonic Storm is very likely to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar Island close to north of Dhamra and south of Balasore, during noon of May 26 as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm: IMD

(ANI)

Vessels anchored on the banks of River Ganga ahead of cyclone Yaas in Kolkata, Tuesday, May 25, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has asked Collectors of the three north coastal districts to be on a high alert in view of the Yaas cyclone.

(PTI)

The Integrated Test Range of DRDO has taken various measures to protect its facilities at Chandipur and Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha, which are likely to be affected by cyclone 'Yaas', an official said on Tuesday.

(PTI)

Paradip port suspends operation from 2 pm on May 25

Paradip Port Trust (PPT) suspended its operations from 2 pm on Tuesday as part of safety measures in view of the impending severe cyclone 'Yaas', which is likely to cross Odisha coast on May 26, an official said.

Read more

Dark clouds loom over fishing boats moored as Cyclone Yaas barrels towards India's eastern coast in the Bay of Bengal where is expected to make a landfall tomorrow, in Digha some 190 Km from Kolkata on May 25, 2021. Credit: AFP Photo

Despite the ban fishermen often head towards the sea for their livelihood, to combat this situation we're making announcements in regional languages. Navy is ready with their diving & medical teams. We believe there will be no loss of life: Coast Guard IG

(ANI)

8,09,830 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas in 14 districts of West Bengal: NDRF

(ANI)

Cyclone Yaas likely to make landfall near Dhamra Port in Odisha's Bhadrak district early on Wednesday morning: IMD

(PTI)

I have spoken to all the DMs on cyclone Yaas. I will stay in Nabanna tonight. I will monitor the situation closely: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee

Credit: PTI File Photo

Increased height of tidal waves may inundate low-lying areas in Bengal

Tidal waves of height 2-4 meters above astronomical tide are likely to inundate low lying low laying areas of Medinipur, Balasore, Bhadrak and about 2 meters above astronomical tide are likely to inundate low lying low laying areas of South 24 Parganas,

INS Chilika makes arrangements to coordinate rescue, relief operations

INS Chilika has stepped up and has made all necessary arrangements to coordinate rescue and relief operations in Cyclone Yaas. Diving, flood relief, medical teams are formed. Relief material for a thousand people made ready for immediate deployment: Naval Officer in-charge

India to move over ten lakh people to safety as cyclone approaches

Authorities on India's east coast began moving more than 10 lakh people to safety on Tuesday as a "severe" Cyclone Yaas neared, days after deadly cyclone hit the west coast.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Cyclone Yaas was powering across the Bay of Bengal and would batter the eastern states of Odisha and West Bengal, and also Bangladesh, on Wednesday.

Odisha's Lake Chilika turns rough ahead of Cyclone Yaas

Cyclone Yaas to intensify into 'very severe cyclonic storm' in next 12 hours

Flash flood warning issued for 1130 on May 26 in West Bengal and Odisha

Evacuation, preparation, awareness drive underway in parts of Odisha

Cyclone Yaas: NDRF earmarks highest-ever number of teams for Odisha, WB

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has earmarked its highest-ever number of teams for deployment in Odisha and West Bengal as part of its preparations for the impending cyclone Yaas, a senior officer said on Tuesday.

The federal contingency force has committed a total of 112 teams for deployment in five states and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands which are expected to be affected by the cyclone developing in the Bay of Bengal.

Read more

NDMA issues safety guidelines for those indoors during cyclone

Watch DH's playlist of videos on latest news here

Rahul Gandhi asks Congress workers to provide all help in ensuring safety of people during Cyclone Yaas

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday appealed to party workers to provide all assistance in ensuring the safety of the people who would be impacted by Cyclone Yaas.

Read more

'Yaas' likely to make landfall near Odisha's Dhamra Port: IMD

Severe cyclonic storm 'Yaas' is likely to make landfall near Dhamra Port in Odisha's Bhadrak district early on Wednesday morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Dr Umashankar Das, a scientist at the Regional Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar said that the landfall will most likely be between Dhamra and Chandbali in the district.

Vehicles ply during rain triggered by Cyclone Yaas, in Bhubaneswar.

The cyclone is set to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours with winds of up to 165 kmph. Credit: PTI Photo

Indian Red Cross Society scales up preparations to extend relief to those affected by Yaas

As Odisha gears to brave Cyclone Yaas, I urge people to be alert, stay safe and follow SOPs given by state & central agencies, tweets Dharmendra Pradhan.

Forecasted path of Cyclone Yaas

Yaas moving at 10 kmph, will intensify into very severe cyclonic storm in 12 hours

Explained: How IMD categorises cyclones

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has had a hectic month so far as the country's top weather body continues to issuewarnings and predicttrajectories of two cyclones on both sides of the Indian peninsula. While cyclone Tauktae rammed into the west coast, the incipient cyclone Yaas is likely to strike the east coast on Wednesday.

Read more

Cyclone Yaas Over 100 NDRF teams deployed for rescue and relief

Rain, gusty winds lash coastal Odisha

Cyclone Yaas: Rahul Gandhi asks Congress workers to provide all help in ensuring safety of people

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday appealed to party workers to provide all assistance in ensuring the safety of the people who would be impacted by Cyclone Yaas.

Cyclonic storm Yaas is likely to make a landfall near Balasore in north Odisha at a speed of 155 kmph to 165 kmph, gusting to 185 kmph, around noon on May 26, the Met department had said on Monday.

Satellite image from NASA shows Cyclone Yaas approaching India's eastern coast.

Yaas is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, and could pack sustained winds of up to 165 kilometers per hour (102 miles per hour), the India Meteorological Department said. Credit: AP Photo

NDRF's S N Pradhan says that 10 more NDRF teams have been deployed in West Bengal ahead of the landfall of cyclone Yaas. Total 45 teams deployed have been deployed in the state.

Cyclone Yaas likely to make landfall near Balasore, Home

Cyclonic storm Yaas is likely to make landfall near Balasore in north Odisha at a speed of 155 kmph to 165 kmph, gusting to 185 kmph, around noon on May 26, the Met department said on Monday.

WB discom to prioritise restoration of power lines to medical facilities

A West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited official said that priority will be given to the restoration of power lines to the medical establishments such as hospitals, safe homes, vaccine storage areas, drinking water lines, mobile towers and crematoriums.

Leaves of all employees have been suspended, and at least three gangs will be deployed at each block of the state under its distribution area, the official said.

Both CESC and WBSEB set up emergency call centres to receive complaints.

A worker carries LPG cylinders on a tricycle during rains ahead of the landfall of Cyclone 'Yaas' in Kolkata

The districts of Howrah, Hooghly, Bankura, Birbhum, Nadia, Paschim and Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, Murshidabad, Jhargram, Purulia would also be affected by the cyclone, said Mamata Banerjee. Credit: PTI Photo

Cyclone Yaas: Bengal power utilities better prepared than Amphan time

The two power utilities of West Bengal on Monday claimed that they are better prepared for Cyclone Yaas, which is likely to hit the state and Odisha on May 26, than they were before last year's storm, Amphan.

The state-owned West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) and private utility CESC Limited, which supplies power to Kolkata and adjoining areas including Howrah, said they aim to minimise inconvenience to consumers.

Cyclone Yaas likely to be more severe than Amphan, may affect 20 Bengal districts: Mamata Banerjee

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday that the West Bengal government has made all necessary arrangements in dealing with the aftermath of cyclone Yaas, which might affect 20 districts of the state.

Read more

Odisha fully prepared to face cyclone Yaas: Patnaik tells Shah

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Monday informed the Centre that the state was fully prepared to deal with the very severe cyclonic storm 'Yaas', which is likely to make landfall near Balasore on May 26.

Patnaik said this while interacting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah who reviewed the cyclone situation. "We are fully prepared and our officers are in touch with officers of the union government. We will get back on requirements," the chief minister said. - PTI

Cyclone Yaas may be more severe than Amphan: Mamata

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday that the West Bengal government has made all necessary arrangements in dealing with the aftermath of cyclone Yaas, which might affect 20 districts of the state.

Read more

Amit Shah reviews states' preparation for Cyclone Yaas ahead of landfall

Cyclonic storm Yaas is likely to make landfall near Balasore in north Odisha at a speed of 155 kmph to 165 kmph, gusting to 185 kmph, around noon on May 26, the Met department said on Monday.

Read more

Covid fear or cyclone fear? Odisha battles both crises

With the Odisha government launching a massive evacuation drive to save people from the fury of Cyclone Yaas, many people in the coastal districts of Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur are reluctant to move to government shelters as they are scared of catching coronavirus, an official said.

Read more