Cyclone Yaas live updates: Bihar govt announces compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for families of those died due to cyclone

Jharkhand, which was put on high alert, continued evacuating low-lying areas on Wednesday amid the forecast that cyclone Yaas would be hitting the state by midnight after pounding neighbouring Odisha and West Bengal, officials said. Operations are being executed on war-footing in the vulnerable areas in East and West Singhbhum, besides some other districts, in view of the very severe cyclonic storm Yaas, Disaster Management Secretary Amitabh Kaushal told . "We are witnessing high-speed wind and have evacuated about 6,000 people from thatched houses and danger zones to shelter homes in safer locations," East Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner Suraj Kumar said. (PTI)

Rising river water levels due to the landfall of cyclone 'Yaas' have inundated large parts of West Bengal's coastal districts of Purba Medinipur and South 24 Parganas on Wednesday, as sea waves were seen touching coconut tree-tops and cars floating in floodwaters. The seaside towns of Digha and Mandarmoni in Purba Medinipur and Fraserganj and Gosaba in South 24 Parganas were among the areas affected by a storm surge of more than 2 metres above the astronomical tide level. (PTI)

Even amidst cyclone Yaas, the transportation of liquid medical oxygen continues. Four oxygen tankers on way from Angul to Hyderabad & Visakhapatnam, two from Jajpur to Berhampur and Bhubaneswar under close supervision and escort of Odisha police, said police.

Indian Army teams are carrying out rescue and relief operations in West Bengal. The teams have rescued a large number of people in Howrah. Logistics & medical aid are being extended to the locals.

As super Cyclone Yaas hit coastal areas of Odisha on Wednesday morning, the Bihar government deployed 22 teams of NDRF and SDRF in districts adjoining Jharkhand and West Bengal. The meteorological department predicts heavy rainfall in the state with strong winds at the speed of 80 to 100kmph expected from Thursday morning. It has also alerted people of Bihar to stay away from open spaces, trees to avoid getting struck by lightning. The effect of Yaas can be witnessed in districts of Katihar, Khagaria, Madhepura, Saharsa, Supaul, Nawada, Lakhisarai, Aurangabad, Patna, Bhojpur, Buxar, Vaishali. The officials believe that the impact of Yaas in southern and central Bihar will be higher compared to north Bihar. (IANS)

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said police, NDRF, Army personnel have been deployed in different places to rescue villagers.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said 15 lakh people have been evacuated so far.

Incessant rains lashed South 24 Parganas on Wednesday, submerging low-lying areas in waist-deep water.

Bihar, sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall today and tomorrow. Assam and Meghalaya expected to receive heavy rainfall today, said IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.

"Cyclone Yaas is crossing Odisha border, south of Balasore. It'll reach Jharkhand tomorrow morning. It caused heavy to extremely heavy rain in the state in the past 24 hours. North Odisha & coastal Odisha expected to receive heavy to extremely heavy rain today," said IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.

As Cyclone Yaas is expected to hit the eastern coastline in a few hours, the Srikakulam district administration has alerted all seashore villages to be careful and vigilant. The officers of Srikakulam district, bordering Odisha, are taking precautions to face any eventuality. Officials have made announcements about Cyclone already. Accordingly, the people of coastal villages were seen taking necessary precautions. (ANI)