Cyclone Yaas updates: Mamata Banerjee pegs loss due to cyclone at Rs 15,000 crore

Cyclone Yaas, which hit the Eastern coast of India, is likely to weaken to a depression by late Thursday, as per the IMD. West Bengal, Odisha see heavy heavy rainfall. Bihar is also expecting rainfall over the next two days. Over 12,000 people have been evacuated in Jharkhand, the NDRF and other agencies are conducting rescue and relief operations in Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

2 dead, 5,000 more evacuated as cyclone-triggered rain pummels Jharkhand

Two people died in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi as their house collapsed amid incessant rainfall under the impact of cyclone 'Yaas', which had rampaged through the state after causing extensive damage in West Bengal and Odisha, a top official said on Thursday.

At least 5,000 more people were evacuated from low-lying areas near rivers flowing above the danger mark in East Sighbhum, in addition to the 15,000 who were shifted to safer shelters, he said. (PTI)

Bengal CM pegs losses due to 'Yaas' at Rs 15K crore, announces scheme for affected people

A day after Cyclone 'Yaas' wreaked havoc in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday that the state has faced losses to the tune of Rs 15,000 crore, and announced the launch of her Duare-Tran (relief at doorstep) scheme next month, primarily aimed at reaching out to the affected people.

Banerjee also allotted Rs 1,000 crore for relief work to be undertaken in the cyclone-hit areas, and said that more funds would be doled out if necessary.

"Going by the initial reports, we have found out that West Bengal has incurred a total loss of around Rs 15,000 crore. It will probably go up. (PTI)

Five-fold increase of cyclones in Bengal: Study

The frequency of cyclones in 15 West Bengal districts, home to nearly 72 million people, has increased five-fold between 1970 and 2019 for which priority should be given to preserving the mangrove forests of Sunderbans which act as a natural coastal defence against flooding, an environmental think tank said on Thursday. (PTI)

Yaas-hit people cry for food, shelter amid heavy rain in pockets of Bengal

Hundreds of people complained that they had to go without food and sleep in the aftermath of cyclone, which has wreaked havoc in Bengal, as their homes lay inundated amid heavy showers that continued to pummel several parts of the state on Thursday.

Cyclone 'Yaas', which made its landfall near Dhamra port in Odisha, barrelled through the neighbouring state and Bengal on Wednesday, causing widespread destruction as it hollered on its path to Jharkhand. (PTI)

"Cyclone Yaas has dissipated into a low-pressure area and its after-effects will bring light to moderate rainfall in Bihar for next 48 hours. Alert has been issued for some isolated areas which may witness heavy rainfall,"Patna Meteorological Centre's Director Vivek Sinha has said. (ANI)

Cyclone-triggered heavy rain lashes north Odisha

Heavy rain pummelled several districts of north Odisha under the impact of Cyclone 'Yaas', the meteorological department said on Thursday.

Joda in Keonjhar district recorded extremely heavy rainfall of 268.6 mm over the past 24 hours, followed by 254.8 mm in Jashipur area of Mayurbhanj district, the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre said.

Lathikata in Sundargarh registered very heavy rainfall of 213 mm, while Basudevpur in Bhadrak recorded 195 mm of precipitation. Chandikhol in Jajpur and Deogar received 177 mm and 131 mm of rain, respectively, it said. (PTI)

Over 300 births recorded amid cyclone fury, parents rush to name newborns 'Yaas'

As the Odisha administration battled Cyclone 'Yaas', which ripped through the state causing widespread destruction, more than 300 births were registered in the coastal state, with some families rushing to name their newborns after the menacing storm, officials said.

Several of these children were born on Tuesday night, when the cyclonic storm was approaching the country's eastern coast, while there are others who saw the light of the world around the time when 'Yaas' made its landfall near Bahanaga, 50 km south of Balasore district. (PTI)

Oxygen supply, steel production remain unaffected amid disruptions due to cyclone: Govt

The government on Thursday said supply of oxygen and steel production at steel plants remained unaffected amid disruptions caused by the cyclone Yaas in eastern states of India. Cyclon Yaas made landfall in Balasore in Odisha on Wednesday. "No disruption of steel production or oxygen supply took place," the Ministry of Steel said in a statement. (PTI)

Visuals from West Bengal's Digha

PM to visit Odisha, West Bengal to review cyclone Yaas impact

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Odisha and West Bengal on Friday to review the impact of cyclone Yaas on the two coastal states.

Government sources said Modi will first hold a review meeting in Bhubaneswar and then proceed for an aerial survey in the affected areas of Balasore, Bhadrak and Purba Medinipur.

He will then hold a review meeting in West Bengal. (PTI)

India faced 117 cyclones from 1970-2019, over 40,000 lives lost: Study

As many as 117 cyclones hit India in 50 years from 1970-2019 claiming over 40,000 lives, according to a study on extreme weather events, which also states the mortality rate due to tropical cyclones has come down significantly over the past 10 years.

A total of 7,063 extreme weather events killed 1,41,308 people during the period in the country, which included 40,358 (or 28 per cent) due to cyclones and 65,130 (a little over 46 per cent) due to floods, the study says.

The research paper published earlier this year has been authored by M Rajeevan, Secretary of Ministry of Earth Sciences, along with scientists Kamaljit Ray, S S Ray, R K Giri and A P Dimri. (PTI)

IMD issues rainfall warning for Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Sikkim

Rainfall Warning: isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy falls likely over Bihar on 27th; heavy to very heavy rainfall over Jharkhand, West Bengal and Sikkim on May 27; over East Uttar Pradesh on May 27 and May 28 and over Bihar on May 28.

Yaas has now weakened into a depression

Yaas now over south Jharkhand moved nearly northwards, weakened into a depression and lay centred at over central parts of Jharkhand, 20 km east of Ranchi (Jharkhand). It is set to weaken into a Well Marked Low pressure area during next 12 hours.

A man walks past a damaged car following Cyclone Yaas in Shankarpur, Purba Medinipur district in West Bengal. Credit: Reuters Photo

Residents take pictures of waves lashing onto a shoreline after Cyclone Yaas hit India's eastern coast in the Bay of Bengal in Digha. Credit: AFP Photo

Impact of Cyclone Yaas is expected stay for another 36 hours

Impact of Cyclone Yaas is expected stay for another 36 hours, heavy rainfall reported from adjacent areas and West Bengal. Red Alert issued in Bihar, Jharkhand and parts of UP following heavy rainfall activity for today and tomorrow, says RK Jenamani, senior scientist, India Meteorological Department

Steel production and oxygen supply see no disruption despite Cyclone Yaas. Dispatch of liquid medical oxygen from oxygen plants in Kalinganagar, Jamshedpur and Angul continued as usual, says PIB in Odisha.

UN agencies ready to support Cyclone Yaas response efforts in India: UN spokesperson

As Tropical Cyclone Yaas ravaged parts of India's eastern coast, a spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said the world body and its agencies stand ready to support the response efforts if state authorities request it, while expressing concern that lack of social distancing in emergency shelters and temporary suspension of vaccination campaigns amid the COVID-19 pandemic could further complicate the health crisis.

People collect wood from a collapsed tree at a cyclon Yaas affected coastal area of Digha, in East Midnapore district. Credit: PTI Photo

A flooded area at Digha during landfall of Cyclone Yaa, in East Midnapore district. Credit: PTI Photo

Central Water Commission issues orange bulletin for floods in Odisha.

IMD issues rough weather warning for regions affected by Cyclone Yaas, eastern seaboard of the nation and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Indian Coast Guard personnel carry out rescue and relief works during landfall process of Cyclone Yaas in Odisha. Credit: PTI Photo

Restoration and road clearance work being undertaken by NDRF in Odisha

A horse crosses a water-logged road after rains ahead of Cyclone Yaas at Digha in Purba Medinipur district in the eastern state of West Bengal. Credit: Reuters Photo

NDRF rescues newborn and mother in Balasore, Odisha

Yaas, now a deep depression centred over souther Jharkhand likely to move northwards and weaken gradually into a depression, says IMD.

Trees uprooted, roads flooded: People living in darkness as cyclone Yaas batters Odisha

Trees and electric poles were uprooted, low-lying areas inundated while kutcha houses were badly damaged as cyclone Yaas left a trail of destruction in Odisha's coastal districts of Balasore and Bhadrak on Wednesday.

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Eight lakh people impacted in Jharkhand; about 12,000 people evacuated

As severe cyclonic storm 'Yaas' enters Jharkhand, the state remains on high alert and has evacuated about 12,000 people to safer zones while operations are still on to minimise damage from the cyclone that pounded neighbouring Odisha and West Bengal, officials said Wednesday.

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Odisha's mangrove forest acts as natural barrier against cyclone yet again

The Cyclone Yaas that barrelled through coastal Odisha triggering damage of varying degrees spared Bhitarkanika National Park and adjoining hamlets in Kendrapara district with its luxuriant mangrove cover acting as a protective barrier against Nature's fury.

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Thunderstorm with lightning and light to moderate rainfall likely to affect parts of Kolkata, East & West Medinipur districts of West Bengal during next 1-2 hours from 0555 hours today: Regional Meteorological Centre, Kolkata - ANI