Cyclone Yaas: Kolkata Airport shuts operations, over 1 million evacuated
The very severe cyclonic storm - Yaas - is centered around 50 km South-Southeast of Balasore in Odisha and its landfall process began around 9 am, the weather department has said. Officials estimate the wind speed could reach 185 kilometer per hour between 5:30 am and 11:30 am along the North Odisha coast. Here are more updates.
Over 11 lakh people have been evacuated
More than 11 lakh people have been evacuated from low-lying areas in West Bengal to protect them from the storm, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reportedly said. The Odisha government said it has shifted over two lakh people from coastal areas in the state. "Every life is precious, thus all possible steps should be taken to protect life," Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik said.
The Indian Army deploys 17 units in West Bengal
The Indian Army has deployed 17 units - each comprising 100 men - in West Bengal. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy has arranged relief material and community kitchen for thousands of people in view of the impending cyclone. That apart, a record 115 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and two lakh police and Home Guard personnel have also been deployed across states.
Air travel hit; Kolkata Airport shut for 11 hours
Flight operations at the Kolkata Airport will remain suspended for nearly 11 hours between 8:30 am and 7:45 pm today, reports say. In fact, Bhubaneswar Airport, Jharsuguda Airport, Durgapur and Rourkela Airports have also been temporarily shut. Thirty-eight long-distance South-bound and Kolkata-bound passenger trains also remain suspended between May 24 and May 29, the Railways said.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall likely in these areas
The weather department has warned extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places over Midnapore, heavy to very heavy rainfall over Bankura, Jhargram, South 24 Parganas, and heavy downpour at areas like Kolkata and Nadia, among others.
What precautions can you take to stay safe?
Stay inside as far as possible and seek shelter in the strongest part of the building/house. Stay away from the windows. If your building starts to break up, protect yourself using mattresses/blankets/rugs under a strong table or bench. Turn off the gas and disconnect electrical appliances to avoid short circuits and damages. Do not go outside until it has been officially advised.
