Odisha, West Bengal brace to fight cyclone 'Yaas'

With Odisha bracing for cyclonic storm Yaas, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday reviewed the state's preparedness and asked officials to evacuate people from low-lying areas. About three lakh people are to be evacuated from coastal areas in West Bengal and adequate relief supplies and water ambulances have been arranged.

Bhubaneswar:With Odisha bracing for cyclonic storm Yass, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday reviewed the state's preparedness and asked officials to evacuate people from low-lying areas.

Cyclone Yaas : 3 lakh people to be avacuated from coastal areas, provision of adequate relief supplies and water ambulances

Noting that saving human lives is the topmost priority of his government, Patnaik asked collectors and SPs of coastal districts to ensure that not a single person is left in the vulnerable situation before the onset of the cyclonic storm.

The state government has placed 14 districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur, on alert. Evacuating people to safe places is most essential, Patnaik said, adding that special care should be given to children, pregnant women and elderly persons.

He directed Chief Secretary SC Mahapatra to monitor the preparedness of the district administrations daily and suggest measures to them. He also asked the administrations of coastal districts to prepare for heavy rain and wind even though India Meteorological Department is yet to make an exact forecast about the landfall of the cyclone.

A low-pressure area formed over the east-central Bay of Bengal on Saturday, which is likely to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm and move towards West Bengal, adjoining north Odisha and Bangladesh coasts around May 26 morning, the Met Department said.

The system is very likely to cross the coasts of the two states and the neighbouring country on May 26 evening, it said. Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena said people in all cyclone shelters will be provided with masks and arrangements for their health check-up will be made by rapid response teams.

If any person tests positive for the coronavirus infection in cyclone centres, he or she will be shifted to COVID hospitals.Patnaik asked the administrations to depute personnel of National Disaster Response Force and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force in places where the cyclonic could wreak havoc.

West Bengal government gears up preparedness

About three lakh people are to be evacuated from coastal areas in West Bengal and adequate relief supplies and water ambulances have been arranged.

West Bengal government has taken all precautionary measures to deal with cyclone Yaas and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will stay at a control room set up for the purpose to monitor the situation, officials said on Saturday.

Banerjee, who held a high-level meeting at the state secretariat during the day, said that relief materials were dispatched to vulnerable areas, while officials were directed for early evacuation of people from coastal and riverine areas.

"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," Banerjee tweeted.

"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 state government has set a control room to monitor the situation at the state secretariat Nabanna', which will work round the clock. The phone numbers of the control room are 1070 and 033-22143526, Banerjee said.

"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," she said in the Twitter post.

Besides the centralised control room, the state government has opened several smaller control rooms in coastal areas of the state, an official said.

"The CM will remain present at the control room in Nabanna on the days when the cyclone is about to hit the coastal areas of the state. She will be accompanied by other senior officers of the government," he said.

All precautionary measures have been taken by the administration, the officer added.

with agency inputs