Cyclone Yaas to hit West Bengal, Odisha on May 24, here are the top developments

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to twitter to ensure the people of the state that proper measures will be taken to safeguard the lives of those at risk to the incoming cyclone Yaas.

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee reviewed the Disaster Management preparedness on Saturday (May 22) with regards to the impending Yaas cyclone today afternoon with all senior officers of relevant Central & State agencies along with DMs & SPs. The NDRF, ICG, NCMC and Indian Army also have sprung into action to ensure there is no loss of life when the cyclone makes landfall.

The Chief Minister took to twitter to ensure the people of the state that proper measures will be taken to safeguard the lives of those at risk to the incoming cyclone Yaas.

CM Mamata Banerjee said, “I have extensively reviewed the Disaster Management preparedness with regards to the impending Yaas cyclone today afternoon with all senior officers of relevant Central & State agencies along with DMs & SPs.”

“All officials have been advised integrated command, advance planning & early evacuation from coastal & riverine areas to rescue shelters including cyclone & flood shelters, and to conduct relief and rehabilitation operations at the earliest,” she added.

The Bengal CM further said, “Fishermen have been alerted to immediately return. 24x7 control rooms have been set up (Ph No - 1070 & 033-22143526). All agencies have been asked to spring into action. Relief materials have been dispatched & Quick Response Teams are mobilised. I request all to stay alert.”

IMD has predicted that cyclone Yaas is likely to intensify into a ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ and cross the Odisha and the West Bengal coasts on May 26, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army has arranged two columns and two engineer task forces in Odisha and eight columns and one engineer task force in West Bengal are ready and on standby for rescue and relief operations, news agency ANI reported.

Ahead of Cyclone Yaas, which is likely to make a landfall along the Bengal-Odisha coast between May 24 and May 26, the Northern Railway cancelled over a dozen trains from the national capital to and from Bhubaneswar and Puri in Odisha.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has also geared up to meet the likely challenges from the developing cyclonic storm Yaas on the east coast.

Besides CM Mamata Banerjee's review, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) headed by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba met on Saturday to review preparedness for the impending Cyclone Yaas in the Bay of Bengal, with the top bureaucrat of the country directing various agencies to ensure safety of COVID-19 patients, hospitals and oxygen generation plants.

The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP), formerly known as Kolkata Port Trust authorities asked officials to ensure that all its vessels are taken inside the dock before the onset of the cyclonic storm, and no ships will be kept at river jetties, SMP Chairman Vinit Kumar said.