Amphan is 2nd disaster amid COVID fight

New Delhi : The National Disaster Response Force on Tuesday said as many as 41 teams are pre-positioned to carry out evacuation and awareness in both Odisha and West Bengal which are likely to be affected by the impending Cyclone Amphan.

The cyclone, with a width of 700 km and 15 km height, is currently whirling 570 km from south-southwest of West Bengal's Digha and 700 km south-southwest from Bangladesh's Khepupara and is going to make landfall in-between the two islands in over 24 hours.

Addressing a press briefing, Director General S.N. Pradhan said, "Nineteen teams are on ground, while two are on standby in six districts of West Bengal. In Odisha, out of the 20 teams, 15 are actively deployed in seven districts."

He said evacuation is being carried out in areas which are likely to be affected. "In Cyclone shelter homes, where 1,000 people can be accommodated, keeping social distancing in mind, only 400-500 people will be kept.