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

THE TIMES OF INDIA | May 28, 2021, 21:59:02 IST

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

Prime minister Narendra Modi will visit Odisha and West Bengal on Friday to review the impact of cyclone Yaas on the two coastal states. 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. Stay with TOI for all the latest updates:

09:28 (IST) May 26

Cyclone Yaas: Met warns of rain, thunderstorm in Bihar till May 29

As cyclone Yaas dashes towards landfall early on Wednesday, the Patna Meteorological Centre issued a yellow code warning for thunderstorms and lightning with gusty winds till Saturday. The impact of the cyclone is likely to be more in south Bihar. Chief minister Nitish Kumar at a high-level review meeting on Tuesday asked all departments concerned to remain on alert.

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09:27 (IST) May 26

Kolkata: Focus on medical needs during cyclone

Keeping in mind the medical emergencies people may need, Kolkata Police said flyovers and bridges will be shut only if the cyclone Yaas gathers speed. Ambulances, even minibuses, are being kept on stand-by across police stations. All police guard rails and barricades will be removed. However, where it is absolutely necessary, cops are using chains and bamboo sticks along with cement slabs to tie the guard rails and ensure they are not blown away.

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09:06 (IST) May 26

Very severe cyclonic storm Yaas lay centred about 50km south-southeast of Balasore. Landfall process started around 9am

VERY SEVERE CYCLONIC STORM YAAS CENTRED ABOUT 50 KM SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF BALASORE.LANDFALL PROCESS HAS COMMENCED AROU… https://t.co/ZXlQdEupGC
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) 1622000118000

09:01 (IST) May 26

Very severe cyclonic storm yaas centred about 50km south-southeast of Balasore. To cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts to the north of Dhamra and south of Balasore, around noon as a very severe cyclonic storm with wind speed of 130-140kmph.

India Meteorological Department

08:58 (IST) May 26

Kolkata airport to remain shut for over 11 hours today

olkata airport will shut down at 8.30am on Wednesday, just in time before cross winds start gaining strength and turn operations treacherous. The airport will resume operations at 7.45pm when the storm abates and conditions improve for safe flight operations. A notice to airmen (NOTAM) was issued on Tuesday to alert airlines about the closure.

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08:57 (IST) May 26

Kolkata: Residents of Port areas, old buildings shifted

A total number of 2274 citizens in Kolkata have been shifted to safer locations till Tuesday evening. They have been put up in 120-odd buildings, which include night shelters, school buildings, community centres and even guest houses and dharamshalas. Around 1270 citizens of those shifted were from Port areas alone. The huge evacuation operation in the past 24 hours was carried out by KMC and Kolkata police with help from civil defence and NDRF at a few locations.

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08:53 (IST) May 26

Odisha: Over 50,000 shifted to safety in Kendrapada & Jagatsinghpur districts

“We fear it will be the most powerful one since the 1999 Super Cyclone. We have already evacuated around 30,000 people from low-lying areas in Kendrapada district and provided them with shelter in 117 cyclone centres and 410 schools. We are determined to keep casualties at nil. No one will be allowed to stay in thatched houses in coastal areas. We will continue to evacuate as many as possible till the last minute,” said Sambeet Satapathy, the emergency officer of Kendrapada district. In Jagatsinghpur district, around 20,000 villagers have been shifted to safer places. “Some people didn’t want to leave so we had to use police to move them to nearby cyclone shelters,” said Kanhu Charan Dhir, the additional district magistrate of Paradip.

08:48 (IST) May 26

Bhubaneswar airport will remain shut till 5am on Thursday: Airports Authority of India

08:47 (IST) May 26

Odisha: Cyclone-Covid tango puts administrations on edge

The cyclonic storm amid the Covid-19 pandemic has put officials in the coastal and adjoining districts on toes as evacuating people by adhering to Covid norms is the biggest challenge for the local administrations. Officials working on the ground are facing tough time in tackling the cyclonic storm along with handling Covid-19-related activities. OAS officer Rajendra Narayan Kar, who is the block development officer (BDO) of Bahanaga block and also in-charge as Bahanaga tehsildar, said Covid has posed a big challenge in the evacuation process. “We have evacuated over 10,000 people from low-lying and vulnerable areas to the shelters by adhering to all Covid norms. We faced some difficulties in persuading people to shift to the cyclone shelters but now many have spontaneously come to the shelters,” said Kar.

08:45 (IST) May 26

Odisha: Fearing damage, Gopalpur fishermen secure vessels

Fishermen in Gopalpur have been moving their boats to safety as high tidal waves lashed the coastal areas under the influence of the approaching cyclone. “No one has been going out fishing for the last three days,” said P Alleya, a fisherman in Gopalpur. “The fishing boats, which were anchored near the shore, have been shifted to safer places, apprehending damage to the vessels due to high tidal wave,” said T Simadri. Around 200 fishing boats are anchored in the sea beach due to lack of a proper fishing jetty.

08:41 (IST) May 26

Andhra Pradesh: Oxygen supplies readied as Yaas Cyclone nears coast

The three north-coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh are bracing to face the severe cyclonic storm Yaas, which is expected to cross the coasts of north Odisha and West Bengal between Paradip and Sagar Island, north of Dhamra and south of Balasore on noon of May 26. The India Meteorological Department has predicted that the weather system would further intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm in the early hours of Wednesday.

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08:26 (IST) May 26

Over 12,000 ready to tackle disruption to power infrastructure

With energy infrastructure expected to be severely damaged in cyclone Yaas, the state government has prepared a massive plan for quick restoration of power supply. Over 12,000 workers with adequate equipment have been mobilised by distribution companies in coastal and interior districts. According to experts, the cyclone might cause massive damage to power infrastructure and restoration work may take a week or more. “Since this a dynamic situation, we are mobilising manpower and materials in accordance with the advisory issued from the special relief commissioner’s office. We are closely monitoring the situation,” said energy secretary Nikunja Bihari Dhal. The energy department has set up a control room to monitor the situation while the Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) has deployed emergency restoration systems (ERS).

08:19 (IST) May 26

Odisha: Relief material for Cyclone Yaas affected people being provided by Indian Navy

Odisha: Relief material for #CycloneYaas affected people being provided by Indian Navy. INS Chilka at Khurda has… https://t.co/EDKMLC3KzU
— TOI Bhubaneswar (@TOIBhubaneswar) 1621997302000

08:15 (IST) May 26

Odisha: Early warning system sends out alert in five coastal districts

The Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) or cyclone siren system installed in five coastal districts has been alerting villagers about the impending very severe cyclone Yaas which is likely to cause large scale damage. Odisha State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA), which controls the sirens, has been using it to alert people about the impending disaster. OSDMA executive director Kamal Lochan Mishra, said, “The cyclone siren system has been operational in five coastal districts where cyclone Yaas is going to have a serious impact. The sirens are blowing at regular intervals within 1.5 km distance from the shore and to ensure the last man living near the sea is informed about the impending cyclone. The alert system has been covering coastal habitations, tourist places and fish landing centres along the coast.”

08:12 (IST) May 26

Odisha: Heavy rain prediction triggers flood threat

The severe cyclonic storm Yaas has triggered heavy rainfall in most districts of coastal Odisha leading to the threat of flooding. Five blocks in the state recorded more than 100 mm rainfall while over 30 blocks have recorded rainfall between 50 to 100 mm on Tuesday. The IMD has predicted that some districts may witness more than 200 mm rainfall as the cyclone passes through the state.

08:08 (IST) May 26

Odisha government readies plan for power restoration after cyclone

With energy infrastructure expected to be severely damaged in cyclone Yaas, the state government has prepared a massive plan for quick restoration of power supply. Over 12,000 workforce with adequate materials have been mobilised by distribution companies in coastal and interior districts. According to experts, the cyclone might cause massive damage to power infrastructure and restoration work may take a week or more. “Since this a dynamic situation, we are mobilising manpower and materials in accordance with the advisory issued from the special relief commissioner’s office. We are closely monitoring the situation,” said energy secretary Nikunja Bihari Dhal.

08:07 (IST) May 26

Navy ships, aircraft ready for rescue, relief operations

The Navy has readied itself for rescue and relief operations with cyclonic storm Yaas fast approaching the Odisha coast. It is likely to cross the North Odisha-West Bengal coast between Paradip and Sagar Island close to north of Dhamra and south of Balasore, around Wednesday noon. Eight flood relief teams and four diving teams have been pre-positioned at Odisha and West Bengal. Four ships are on standby with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) bricks, diving and medical teams to render assistance in the most-affected areas along the Odisha and West Bengal coast, official sources said.

08:00 (IST) May 26

Odisha: Covid-19 fear keeps many away from cyclone shelters

As the state government evacuates people from coastal districts ahead of the impending cyclone, a large number of them were reluctant on Tuesday to leave their homes for fear of catching Covid-19. Villagers in coastal districts of Balasore and Bhadrak said they would go to the cyclone shelters only if they feel their lives could be in danger. “Before the cyclone we were confined to our homes due to the lockdown to check the spread of Covid-19. But with the cyclone approaching, now everyone will be in the cyclone shelters where there will be a high chance of getting infected. It is very difficult to ensure social distancing and use of masks in the shelters. So, we will move to a safer place only when we feel threat to our lives,” said Kanhu Charan Swain, a resident of Kalamatia village in Balasore district. Many of the villagers are waiting for the wind speed to increase after which they will go to the cyclone shelter.

07:55 (IST) May 26

Odisha: Chandipur, Balasore witness heavy rainfall & strong winds.

07:53 (IST) May 26

Bhubaneswar city braces for heavy rainfall

“The wind speed in the capital will be between 60 kmph and 80 kmph but it will not be continuous. The wind speed Bhubaneswar will experience can blow away some materials or damage light fittings. As precautionary measures, people should stay indoors during the cyclone,” IMD regional director H R Biswas said. Anticipating damage to billboards and hoardings, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) asked the advertisers to remove them from vulnerable locations. The hoardings, if blown away, may cause harm to people. The BMC also removed all temporary sheds created at vaccination sites anticipating damage. “Anticipating very heavy rainfall, we have decided to evacuate 20,000 people to cyclone shelters. Till late evening, none had been shifted as the situation on the ground is stable. We are yet to deploy NDRF or ODRAF teams here and will do so only after taking an update from the Met department,” said BMC additional commissioner Laxmikant Sethi.

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