Amphan intensifies into cyclonic storm

New Delhi: Cyclone Amphan intensified into a severe cyclonic storm on Sunday raising the possibility of heavy rainfall coupled with high velocity winds in several coastal districts of Odisha and parts of West Bengal.

The MeT department said that the cyclonic storm, pronounced UM-PUN, is very likely to intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours. Cyclone Amphan is likely to make landfall in between West Bengal's Sagar Islands and Hatiya Islands in neighbouring Bangladesh during the afternoon or early evening of May 20 as a very severe cyclonic storm. Ahead of the cyclone making landfall, Odisha has urged the Centre to temporarily suspend 'Shramik Special' trains passing through areas falling in the direction of the storm.

The Odisha government on Saturday announced that it will shift migrant workers lodged in various quarantine centres near the coast to safer places. "Saving of lives is our priority. We should put our best efforts to save every precious human life," Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had said. The Bhubaneswar unit of the IMD issued a yellow alert on Sunday indicating that West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts are likely to be affected by the cyclone, which is brewing over Southeast Bay of Bengal. The cyclone which is now a severe cyclonic storm is very likely to intensify further into a 'Very Severe Cyclonic Storm' during the next 12 hours, according to MeT department data.