Very severe cyclone 'Yaas' likely to hit Odisha coast on May 26

The well-marked low pressure over the Bay of Bengal has turned into depression and will intensify into a cyclone by Monday morning. As per the IMD's latest prediction, it will make landfall between Paradip & Sagar Island on the evening of May 26. The wind speed will be 155 to 165 kmph during landfall.

Bhubaneswar: Very severe cyclonic storm Yaas is expected to make a landfall between Odisha's Paradip and Sagar Islands on May 26. The wind speed will be 155 to 165 kmph during landfall, informed India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday afternoon.

"Latest satellite imageries and Ocean Buoy observations indicate that yesterday's low-pressure area which became well marked over the east-central Bay of Bengal in the same evening has concentrated into a depression over the east-central Bay of Bengal and lay centered at 1130 hrs IST of today, the 23rd May 2021 near latitude 16.1 °N and longitude 90.2°E, about 560 km north-northwest of Port Blair (Andaman Islands), 590 km east-southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 690 km south-southeast of Balasore (Odisha) and 670 km south-southeast of Digha (West Bengal)," the IMD said.

"It is very likely to move north northwestwards and intensify into a Cyclonic Storm by 24th May morning and further into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during the subsequent 24 hours. It would continue to move north northwestwards, intensify further and reach Northwest Bay of Bengal near West Bengal and north Odisha coasts by 26th May morning," a bulletin of the IMD said.

Light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy rainfall in the north coastal districts on 25 May, heavy to very heavy rains at a few places with extremely heavy falls in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Mayurbhanj, and heavy to very heavy falls at a few places in the districts of north Odisha namely Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Mayurbhanj Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Jajpur, Keonjhar on 26th May.

No fishermen are advised to venture into the sea and those in the deep sea have been ordered to return immediately.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed preparations for cyclone Yaas and was briefed on the various efforts to assist people living in the affected areas.

Modi also instructed all officials to timely evacuation and electricity and communication are not disrupted. He encouraged ordinary people as well to take part in solving this great task.

He also asked officials to ensure proper coordination and planning with state governments to ensure no disruptions in Covid treatment and vaccination in hospitals.