Cyclone Amphan LIVE: IAF readies 25 aircraft, 31 choppers for relief ops

Cyclone Amphan update: Stay tuned with Business Standard on cyclone Amphan landfall, cyclone alert, weather update and more

1:10 AM

Millions in cyclone evacuation shelters face Covid risk

As the biggest cyclone to hit in two decades loomed over the Bay of Bengal, emergency relief officials realised they were facing a nightmare: They needed to evacuate over 5 million people to safety at the risk of spreading Covid-19. Right after the weather office elevated the cyclone warning to the maximum, government officials had the onerous task of evacuating hundreds to storm shelters while at the same time attempting to keep social distancing rules in place. Read on...

12:33 AM

Cyclone Amphan hits Covid testing in Bengal

The number of samples tested for COVID-19 in West Bengal almost halved over the last two days, as most technicians could not reach laboratories making their way through thousands of trees and electric poles that lay scattered across the state, owing to the impact of Cyclone Amphan, a senior official said. While the number of samples tested on Tuesday and Wednesday were 8,712 and 8,722, respectively, the count came down to 4,242 on Thursday and 5,355 on Friday, he said. Read on...

11:38 PM

World's largest Banyan tree in Howrah botanical garden damaged

The Amphan cyclone which hit West Bengal a day before the International Day for Biological Diversity on Friday has severely damaged the world's largest banyan tree in the Howrah botanical garden. This cyclone has also uprooted one of the two kalpvriksha', having botanical name as olea cuspidata and also known as wild olive, brown olive or Indian olive, in the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden in Howrah, Allahabad-based scientist Shiv Kumar of Botanical Survey of India on Friday. Read on....

11:09 PM

EU announces initial funding of 500,000 euro

The European Union has announced an initial funding of 500,000 euro for cyclone Amphan-affected people in India. Cyclone Amphan has left 80 people dead and thousands homeless in West Bengal, battering several parts of the state. It also wreaked havoc in Odisha damaging power and telecom infrastructure in several coastal districts. "The EU will address immediate needs of people affected by the cyclone, as well as protect humanitarian aid and health workers from their exposure to the epidemic," EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic said in a statement.

10:57 PM

Telecom networks operating at 65-70 per cent capacity in affected districts, says COAI

Telecom networks continued to operate at 65-70 per cent capacity on the third day after super cyclone Amphan wreaked havoc in coastal districts of West Bengal, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) said on Friday. Continuous power outages, frequent fibre cuts and electricity wires on roads have made restoration of telecom networks a challenging task, COAI said. However, telecom companies expect to make up to 90 per cent services operational by Sunday evening. Read on..

10:56 PM

Bengal staring at record agri-loss

Cyclone Amphan has ravaged the farming sector in at least 14 of the 23 districts in West Bengal and the loss incurred may create an all-time record, state Agriculture Minister Ashish Banerjee said on Friday. According to initial estimates, Hooghly and Birbhum districts have incurred a loss of Rs 600 crore and Rs 462 crore respectively, Banerjee told PTI. Read on...

9:51 PM

IAF readies 25 aircraft, 31 choppers for relief operations

The Indian Air Force has readied 25 aircraft and 31 choppers for relief operations in areas affected by Cyclone Amphan, the IAF said Friday. "The aircraft/helicopters were modified with required equipment for undertaking relief operations and are on standby with crew for a quick deployment at various IAF bases," it said in a statement. Amphan, the strongest storm to hit India's eastern region since Cyclone Sidr killed nearly 3,500 people in 2007, made a landfall on Wednesday evening in the Sunderbans in West Bengal. Read on...

8:49 PM

The nation stands in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in West Bengal and Odisha: Modi

6:24 PM

Watch | PM Conducts aerial survey in Odisha

6:19 PM

Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased

Expressing solidarity with the people of Odisha and deep sorrow for the lives lost, Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the seriously injured in the cyclone in the State: Government of India 

6:06 PM

Govt of India announces Rs 500 Crore for Odisha, as a measure in advance

Govt of India announces Rs 500 Crore for Odisha, as a measure in advance. Govt will further help Odisha govt and make rest of the arrangements to come out of this crisis, after the complete survey and the formation of a rehabilitation plan: PM Narendra Modi

5:56 PM

Modi holds a review meeting with senior officials in Bhubaneswar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a review meeting with senior officials and minister of the state in Bhubaneswar after his aerial survey of the areas affected due to #CycloneAmphan. CM Naveen Patnaik, Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan & Pratap Sarangi are also present.

 

5:36 PM

Nepal govt is grieved over loss of lives & destruction of properties in West Bengal

Nepal govt is grieved over loss of lives & destruction of properties in West Bengal by #CycloneAmphan. Govt extends its heartfelt condolences to bereaved families of deceased as well as to Indian Govt. It also wishes speedy recovery of injured: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal

 

5:13 PM

Concerned about people’s well-being in the wake of devastation: Prez

I spoke with the Governor of Odisha, Prof. Ganeshi Lal, and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, today and expressed my concern about people’s well-being in the wake of devastation caused by Cyclone Amphan.

4:16 PM

Declare cyclone Amphan as a national calamity: Opposition

Opposition parties urge the Central Govt to immediately declare cyclone Amphan as a national calamity & substantially help the states in facing the impact of this disaster: Resolution passed in the virtual meeting of 22 opposition parties