Crops may be completely damaged says IMD Chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra

New Delhi : Super Cyclone Amphan will hit West Bengal around afternoon on Wednesday with a "devastating wind speed" that is likely to cause "widespread damage", said the IMD Chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra on Tuesday.

He said it is the sharpest and most powerful cyclone in the Bay of Bengal area since 1999.

Coastal Bangladesh, East Medinipur and two 24 Parganas of West Bengal along with Kolkata will face the brunt of the massive wind speed, warned the IMD. During the landfall, the wind speed will be more than 150 km per hour.

Slums in urban areas, huts in rural areas and trees and telephone poles may face the brunt, warned the IMD. Accordingly, train and bus services are diverted from these areas, as per advice of the IMD.

In bad news for farmers of both West Bengal and Odisha, all agricultural fields in affected districts are expected to be completely devastated.