Cyclone Yaas LIVE: PM Modi to visit Odisha, West Bengal tomorrow

Cyclone Yaas LIVE updates: Track cyclone Yaas landfall, cyclone alert, weather updates and more on Business Standard

Cyclone Yaas LIVE updates: Cyclone Yaas, packing winds of up to 130-145 kmph, whiplashed the country's eastern coasts on Wednesday, dumping heavy rain, damaging houses and farmlands, and leaving at least four persons dead - three in Odisha and one in Bengal. Yaas, which was earlier classified as a very severe cyclonic storm, hit the coast north of Dhamra in Odisha's Bhadrak district and 50 km south of Balasore, close to Bahanaga block, around 9 am.

The landfall process was over around 1:30 pm. 

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 113 teams in five states and a UT as part of its preparation and response to the severe cyclonic storm 'Yaas'-- the highest ever such deployment in the rescue operation. These teams have been deployed in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Andaman and Nicobar Island.

Meanwhile, Odisha shifted 5.8 lakh people to safer places, while West Bengal moved 15 lakh people ahead of the cyclone. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that 10 million people were affected by the cyclone in the state. Three lakh houses were damaged due to the cyclone, she said. 

Jharkhand, already on high alert state, continued evacuating low-lying areas amid the forecast that the cyclone would be hitting the state by midnight.
 

'Yaas' is the second cyclonic storm to hit India within a week after 'Tauktae' tore into its western coast, causing death and destruction.
 

Stay tuned for Cyclone Yaas LIVE updates

2:57 AM

Cyclone Yaas: breeding centres of croc, rare turtle inundated in Sundarbans

Nylon net fencing to prevent tigers from entering human habitations were damaged, breeding centres for crocodiles and Batagur baska - a rare species of turtle were inundated, as Cyclone Yaas has severely damaged the Sunderban Tiger Reserve (STR), an official said on Thursday.
 

The majority of the 40 protection camps used by the forest department personnel in the Sunderbans were also inundated following a downpour induced by the cyclone on Wednesday, Chief Wildlife Warden V K Yadav said.
 

"Since most of the area is under water now, it is difficult to ascertain actual damage," Yadav told PTI.
 

He said that more than 25 km of nylon net fencing is damaged as per a preliminary report from the STR.
 

"The conservation breeding pool, as well as the isolation pools of Batagur Baska, were submerged, the senior forest official said.
 

He said that four such turtles were rescued, while 35 others have been kept at a secure place in Sajnekhali.
 

There has been damage to Bhagabatpur crocodile breeding centre due to submergence, though the 300-odd crocodiles kept there are safe, Yadav said.
 

He said that 25 spotted deer escaped from Bakkhali forest camp and they are now in nearby forests and not in human habitation.
 

Four deer were also rescued from Dulki, Sonagaon, Dayapur and Jhingakhali, a source in the forest department said.
 

Following report of tiger straying into Paikpara, Moipith, Nalgora beat and Raidighi range, the forest department staff reached the spot observed pug marks of fishing cat only.
 

"Our teams are in touch with villagers and the Joint Forest Management Committee to keep watch on straying of any tiger," Yadav said.
 

As per a recent survey by the department, the number of Royal Bengal Tigers in the Sunderbans is 96.
 

2:55 AM

5 killed in Bengal in incidents of lightning, electrocution; heavy rain lashes several districts

At least five persons were killed in West Bengal on Thursday in separate incidents of lightning strike and electrocution, an official of the disaster management department said.
 

Three people - two teenage boys in Murshidabad district's Hariharpara and another person in Nakashipara in Nadia district - died after being struck by lightning, he said.
 

In Purba Medinipur's Nandigram, two young boys were electrocuted to death, the official said.
 

Heavy rain lashed the metropolis and some other districts of West Bengal, a day after cyclone 'Yaas' wreaked havoc in several places in North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas and the tourist hotspot of Digha, but spared Kolkata of any significant damage.
 

The Met Department said 75 mm rainfall was recorded at Alipore here till 5.30 pm from 8.30 am on Thursday, with Malda receiving the highest downpour at 140 mm during the period.
 

Diamond Harbour logged 57 mm rainfall.
 

Possibility of heavy rain will persist as long as a depression - a fallout of the cyclone - exists in the vicinity of the state, Deputy Director of the Regional Met Centre, Sanjib Bandopadhyay, said.

"All districts of West Bengal will experience thunderstorms with isolated heavy rain," he said, adding, the intensity will decrease from Friday morning. 
 

2:55 AM

TMC govt demands funds after cyclones but doesn't give spending data: BJP

The BJP's West Bengal president Dilip Ghosh on Thursday alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government in the state demands funds from the Centre to fight disasters like cyclones, but it does not provide details of how the money is spent.
 

Ghosh said that the chief minister claimed that West Bengal did not get any money from the Union government for relief operations after Cyclone Amphan barrelled through the state last May, but "our findings prove that the Centre gave Rs 2700 crore after the disaster."
 

The Centre had given Rs 5500 crore after Cyclone Aila hit West Bengal in 2009 when the Left Front was in power, but Banerjee who was then in the opposition had asked the Manmohan Singh government not to give money to it, he claimed.
 

"We do not say such things. We ask the Centre to release funds due to the state, but also tell the state to provide details of the use of the money given," Ghosh said.
 

2:54 AM

Southwest monsoon advances further in more parts of Bay of Bengal, likely to hit Kerala by May 31

The southwest monsoon has advanced further in more parts of southwest and eastcentral Bay of Bengal and conditions are favourable for its onset over Kerala around May 31, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.
 

The Arabian Sea as well as the Bay of Bengal witnessed two cyclones - Tauktae and Yaas - over the two weeks. Several parts of the country have witnessed an intense rainfall activity due to these two circulations.
 

"Southwest monsoon has further advanced into some more parts of Maldives-Comorin area, southwest and eastcentral Bay of Bengal, most parts of Southeast Bay of Bengal and some parts of westcentral Bay of Bengal today the May 27 morning.
 

"Conditions are likely to become favourable for onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala around May 31," the IMD said.
 

The normal onset date for the monsoon's arrival over Kerala is June 1. This also marks the commencement of four-month rainfall season from June to September.
 

The IMD has predicted a normal monsoon this year.
 

11:20 PM

Cyclone Yaas: Indian Navy's 7 teams have remained at forefront of relief activities in West Bengal

Seven teams of the Indian Navy have remained at the forefront of relief activities that are being conducted in West Bengal after cyclone Yaas hit the state's coastal areas on the morning of May 26, the defence ministry said on Thursday.
 

"The seven teams comprising two diving and five flood relief teams (FRT) have remained at the forefront of relief activities," the ministry's statement noted.
 

Cyclone Yaas pounded parts of India's eastern coast on Wednesday, killing at least four people and forcing more than 21 lakh people to be evacuated to safe shelters in West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand.
 

The relief control centre at Indian naval ship Netaji Subhas, in coordination with the West Bengal government, have concentrated their relief and rescue operations in Digha and Fraserganj, the two highly inundated low-lying coastal areas since the landfall of cyclone Yaas on May 26 morning.
 

The Indian Navy's team at Fraserganj was deployed on Wednesday morning to Narayanpur village, about 30km away, for rescue and relief operations despite heavy rains and inclement weather, the defence ministry said.
 

The Navy's team at Digha operated in villages in the vicinity of Digha and undertook road clearing operations and distributed aid to the needy, it mentioned.
 

11:19 PM

2 dead, 5,000 more evacuated as cyclone-triggered rain pummels Jharkhand

Two people died in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi as their house collapsed amid incessant rainfall under the impact of cyclone 'Yaas', which had rampaged through the state after causing extensive damage in West Bengal and Odisha, a top official said on Thursday.
 

A major bridge on river Kanchi that connects Bundu with Tamar near Ranchi also collapsed following torrential rain, he said.
 

At least 5,000 more people were evacuated from low- lying areas near rivers flowing above the danger mark in East Sighbhum, in addition to the 15,000 who were shifted to safer shelters, he said.
 

Close to eight lakh people have been affected by the cyclone and copius rain triggered by it, officials said.
 

"Two persons have lost their lives in house collapse due to excessive rain in Ranchi, while a major bridge in Tamar has collapsed," Disaster Management Secretary Amitabh Kaushal told PTI.
 

Earlier, one person was killed due to lightning in Bokaro.
 

Kaushal said rescue operations are still underway in several areas of Subarnrekha and Kharkhai in East Singhbhum.
 

11:18 PM

Cyclone "Yaas" effect: air and rail traffic affected in Bihar

Air and rail traffic have been affected on account of cyclone "Yaas" in Bihar which received moderate to heavy rains on Thursday and where the existing weather conditions are expected to continue for the next few days.
 

Flight operations were suspended at the Patna airport in the evening after the city was lashed by a downpour, and an aviation official said resumption would take place only after reviewing the situation.
 

"Four flights have been cancelled on account of suspension of air traffic which is to remain in force at least till 2200 hours. The situation will be reviewed before a decision is taken on the resumption of flights", airport director Bhupesh Negi said in a statement.
 

Air traffic has diminished in Bihar in the wake of the raging second wave of Covid 19 and the lockdowns which have been clamped in the wake at many places, including across the state.
 

Nonetheless, the airport here remains abuzz with activity with cargo aircraft carrying essential medical supplies landing frequently.
 

Moreover, the East Central Railway (ECR) zone headquartered at Hajipur said in a release that several inter-state special trains have been cancelled in view of the weather disturbances expected in Bihar because of the cyclone.
 

10:19 PM

Odisha anticipates medium level flood in river Baitarani; alerts 4 districts

The Odisha government on Thursday put four districts on high alert as the water level in river Baitarani increased due to cyclone Yaas induced extremely heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas.
 

The districts of Keonjhar, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Bhadrak have been asked to take immediate measures as the water level in river Baitarani is flowing above danger level both at Anandapur and Akhuapada, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Jena told reporters here.
 

"We are expecting a medium range flood in the river Baitarani which may affect three major districts like Bhadrak, Jajpur and Kendrapara", Jena said, adding Keonjhar may be mildly affected due to the flood in river Baitarani.
 

He said the water level at Anandapur around 2 pm was 39.08 metre against the danger level of 38.36 metre while it was 17.92 metre at Khuapada against the danger level of 17.83 metre.
 

As the water required at least 6 hours to reach Akhuapada, it is expected that the water level will rise by another one metre by Friday. Therefore, it will be a medium range flood in the river Baitarani, Jena said.
 

8:47 PM

Five-fold increase of cyclones in Bengal: Study

The frequency of cyclones in 15 West Bengal districts, home to nearly 72 million people, has increased five-fold between 1970 and 2019 for which priority should be given to preserving the mangrove forests of Sunderbans which act as a natural coastal defence against flooding, an environmental think tank said on Thursday.

 

The study roots of mangrove trees known as pneumatophores which grow upward from the soil to get oxygen supply act as a shock absorber against violent storm surges and floods in the Sunderbans which lie on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers on the Bay of Bengal.

 

The Sundari is the dominant mangrove tree species of the Sunderbans.

8:26 PM

Kolkata sees heavy rainfall as Yaas 'recurved northwards'

8:16 PM

Effect of Yaas intensifying in Bihar

After creating devastation in Odisha, West Bengal, and Jharkhand, the effect of Cyclone Yaas was visible in several districts of Bihar on Thursday and will continue till Friday.

 

Heavy rainfall, with strong winds having speed of 30 to 40 kmph, is currently underway in south, southeast and central districts of Bihar and is expected to intensify from Thursday night till Friday. Rain with thunderstorm and lightning are expected in these two days.

 

The most affected districts are Gaya, Auranganad, Lakhisarai, Shaikehpura, Nawada, Banka, Bhagalpur, Patna, Vaishali, Saran, Bhojpur, and Buxar. Besides, Purnea, Araria, Katihar, Madhepura, and Saharsa are also impacted.

7:49 PM

Cyclone Yaas-hit people cry for food, shelter amid heavy rain in pockets of Bengal

Hundreds of people complained that they had to go without food and sleep in the aftermath of cyclone, which has wreaked havoc in Bengal, as their homes lay inundated amid heavy showers that continued to pummel several parts of the state on Thursday.

 

Cyclone 'Yaas', which made its landfall near Dhamra port in Odisha, barrelled through the neighbouring state and Bengal on Wednesday, causing widespread destruction as it hollered on its path to Jharkhand.

 

Officials said that the administration was trying its best to reach out to people in need, but the inclement weather is impeding relief work in certain pockets.

7:13 PM

PM reviews cyclone Yaas impact, directs agencies to ensure restoration of normal life at earliest

After cyclone Yaas left behind a trail of destruction in Odisha and West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday advised the concerned agencies to ensure normal life is restored in the affected areas at the earliest.

 

According to an official release, in a review meeting, the Prime Minister noted the effective and proactive role played by the Central and States agencies in responding to the challenges thrown by the cyclone and advised the agencies to ensure that normal life is restored in the affected areas at the earliest and relief is appropriately disbursed to persons affected by the cyclone.

 

The officials present in the meeting made a detailed presentation on various aspects of preparedness, assessment of damages, and related matters.

6:35 PM

More than 300 births registered in Odisha amid cyclone fury, some families name newborns ‘Yaas’

6:11 PM

Cyclone Yaas has dissipated into a low-pressure area: Official