Cyclone 'Yaas’ to intensify into very severe Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hrs

New Delhi: The Indian Meteorological Department on Tuesday forecast that the cyclonic storm 'Yass' very likely to move north-north-westwards and intensify further into a very severe Cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours.

'It would continue to move north-north-westwards, intensify further and reach Northwest Bay of Bengal near north Odisha and West Bengal coasts very close to Chandbali-Dhamra port by the early morning of Wednesday, the 26th May. It is very likely to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar Island around Balasore, during noon of Wednesday, the 26th May as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm,' the IMD said in a statement.

The weather agency said that ‘Yaas’ over East Central Bay of Bengal moved north-westwards with a speed of about 10 kmph during past 6 hours, and lay centred at 0530 hrs today, over Eastcentral & adjoining West central Bay of Bengal near latitude 18.0°N and longitude 88.6°E, about 320 km south-southeast of Paradip in Odisha, 430 km south-southeast of Balasore , 420 km south-southeast of West Bengal's Digha and 470 kms south-southwest of Khepupara in Bangladesh.

On Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asked the Chief Ministers of Odisha, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh and the Lt. Governor of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands to gear up for the impending cyclone by making adequate arrangements of power back up in all Covid-19 hospitals, labs, vaccine cold chains and other medical facilities.

Reviewing the preparedness of the concerned states and UT in a meeting via video conferencing, he advised them to ensure adequate stocks of all essential medicines and supplies in hospitals, keeping in view likely disruption of movement of vehicles. For health facilities, including temporary hospitals, likely to be affected by the cyclone.

While reviewing the cyclone impact on oxygen generation plants located in the States of West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, Mr Shah advised them to make advance planning for keeping a buffer stock of oxygen for two days and movement of oxygen tankers to allocated states, so that in case of any disruption, supply to allocated States is not impacted and also asked them to ensure the safety of oxygen generation plants.

“Al concerned States and UT to ensure that all fishermen are brought back to shore and the timely evacuation of people from low lying and vulnerable areas”, Mr Shah said, adding that disseminate messages in local languages over mobile phones, television, social media and through village panchayats, with a view to educate and motivate people with the help of volunteers of Home Guards, NCC and Civil Defence", he added.(UNI)