Cyclone Amphan LIVE Updates: Cyclone begins landfall, process to last for four hours
Remember the super cyclone of 1999 that devastated Odisha? Now, the IMD says that Cyclone Amphan that is likely to hit parts of India will be similar to that. As per weathermen, the cyclonic storm has intensified rapidly and is expected to hit Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and a few other parts of India in the next 24 hours. Odisha has already been lashed by heavy rains after the super cyclone Amphan weakened to extremely severe cyclonic storm.
The Met predicts torrential rains in Odisha and West Bengal and also warned of extensive damage in Kolkata and other parts of Bengal.
As a precautionary measure the Odisha government has warned migrants returning home from other states to stay put in view of the approaching storm. The state is also likely to use the SMS alert system to evacuate residents in case the situation goes out of control. The Indian coast guard has also alerted fishing boats, international vessels and merchant vessels.
Here are the latest updates on cyclone Amphan:
Naveen Patnaik Undertakes Aerial Survey: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik undertakes an aerial survey of the state to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Amphan.
Amphan Expected to Weaken Futher: MeT | Cyclone Amphan further weakens into a Deep Depression and lay centered at 11:30 am near 25.0°N/89.6°E. It is expected to weaken further into a depression during the next few hours.
SuCS ‘AMPHAN’ further weakened into a Deep Depression and lay centered at 1130IST 21st near 25.0°N/89.6°E. To weaken further into a Depression during next 06 hours. pic.twitter.com/5RhrZBnHEc
— India Met. Dept. (@Indiametdept) May 21, 2020
Deaths May Rise in Bengal: NDRF | The number of deaths and injuries may rise in West Bengal, says NDRF Chief SN Pradhan.
West Bengal: Streets in Kolkata waterlogged, trees uprooted and houses damaged due to strong winds and heavy rain as #Amphan crossed West Bengal-Bangladesh coast between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) across Sunderbans, between 1530 and 1730 hrs today. pic.twitter.com/obYlwiW9TO
— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2020
5500 houses damaged, 2 persons dead and 2 severely injured in North 24 Parganas, as per 7 pm report by Bibek Vasme, Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Basirhat.
The situation is fast-transforming. It is a long haul. The duty of NDRF and other agencies does not end with landfall of the cyclone. Work actually begins after landfall in the form of relief and restoration - NDRF chief SN Pradhan
Trailers are seen overturned due to high velocity winds in Odisha
#CycloneAmphan in #WestBengal#Amphan#CycloneAmphanUpdate pic.twitter.com/MeQri4X4ul
— 🇮🇳 Rakesh Sharma 🇮🇳 (@HinduRastraRSS) May 20, 2020
Live Visuals from Balasore, Odisha
Cyclone #Amphan pic.twitter.com/7XT9FrAYp9
— Shutapa Paul (@ShutapaPaul) May 20, 2020
Odisha govt asks collectors to submit Cyclone Amphan damage assessment report within 48 hours