Cyclone Yaas: NDRF Teams deployed on eastern coast

The Cyclonic Storm 'Yaas' over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards with a speed of about 07 kmph during past 6 hours, and lay centred in the afternoon hours of Monday over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal, about 670 km north-northwest of Port Blair (Andaman Islands), 490 km south-southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 590 km south-southeast of Balasore (Odisha) and 580 km south-southeast of Digha (West Bengal).

On Monday, Union Home Minister, Amit Shah held a review meeting to assess the preparedness of Cyclone Yaas.

The meeting was held through video conferencing with the Chief Ministers of Odisha, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, Lt. Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Central Ministries and with concerned agencies.

The Union Home Minister laid emphasis on making adequate power backup arrangements in all COVID-19 hospitals, labs, vaccine cold chains and other medical facilities.

The Union Home Minister also reviewed the impact of cyclone Yaas on oxygen generation plants located in the States of West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

The Union Home Minister further advised the States to make advance planning for keeping buffer stock of oxygen for two days in order to ensure unhindered supply of Oxygen.

Safety of all shipping and fishing vessels, and all ports and oil installations in the area was also reviewed during the meeting.

The Minister directed to ensure on bringing back the fishermen to shore alongwith timely evacuation of people from low lying and vulnerable areas.

In a review meeting held on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi spoke about the need to ensure swift restoration of power supply and communication network which was once again emphasised by the Home Minister in the meeting on Monday ensuring safety of power and telecommunication services with timely restoration in case of any lapse.

NDRF Director General, S N Pradhan on Monday tweeted and informed on deployment of more than 100 NDRF teams across important locations.

The teams will be delpoyed in Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Andaman & Nicobar. 52 teams will be deployed in Odisha, 35 in West Bengal, 3 in Andhra Pradesh, 5 in Tamil Nadu and 4 in Andaman & Nicobar islands.

As per IMD forecast, light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy falls at isolated places over Coastal Odisha is likely to take place on 24th May.

Heavy rainfall is expected at isolated places in north interior Odisha on 25th and 26th May.

The wind speed would gradually increase gusting to 110 kmph from 26th morning and will increase thereafter gusting to 185 kmph.

Odisha's coastal district Balasore and Bhadrak are expected to be the most affected. Iin view of this, special preparations are being made.

Around 800 personnel from the NDRF as well as the State Disaster Relief Force are ready with all the equipment.

At the same time, preparations are on its final stage in Paradeep which is likely to face a landfall due to Cyclone Yaas.

Light rains have been forecasted by IMD in areas of West Bengal on 25th May.

Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall over Medinipur, South & north 24 Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly districts on 25th whereas extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places over Jhargram, Medinipur, North & south 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata have been forecasted.

Meghalaya to face light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places on 26th& 27th May. In view of current circumstances, Eastern Railway has cancelled the operation of trains running between 24 May and 29 May.

All in all, all preparations are being full fledgedly executed by the government to fight Cyclone Yaas amid the pandemic.

By: Tapas Bhattacharya