LIVE: PM Modi to review post-Amphan situation in West Bengal tomorrow

22:02 May 21

CM Naveen Patnaik undertook an aerial survey of Cyclone Amphan affected areas

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik undertook an aerial survey of Cyclone Amphan affected areas on Thursday.  According to the Chief Minister's Office, 2 lakh people in 89 blocks of the state have been relocated and about 44.60 lakh people in 1,500 villages have been affected.

The Chief Minister has directed the officials to complete the survey of demolished houses within a week and assess agricultural damage within 2 days.

20:06 May 21

Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to visit West Bengal on Friday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Amphan-hit areas of West Bengal on Friday. The visit is in response to CM Mamata Banerjee's request to the PM regarding the same.

So far, Amphan has claimed 72 lives in the state.

20:04 May 21

Mamata says 72 killed in cyclone, urges PM to visit state

A day after severe cyclonic storm Amphan wreaked havoc in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly and North and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday that at least 72 people have lost their lives due to the cyclone, and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the state and help rebuild the affected areas from scratch.

Amphan made its landfall in West Bengal on Wednesday afternoon and caused severe damages in various parts of the state with a wind speed ranging from 155 to 185 kmph, accompanied by heavy rainfall.

After conducting a review meeting with the concerned officials, Banerjee said, "As per the reports received so far, 72 people have lost their lives across the state due to Cyclone Amphan. Two of the districts - South and North 24 Parganas - have been are completely devastated and need to be rebuilt from scratch."

She also urged the Centre to extend all possible help to the state in this hour of crisis.

Saying that she has never witnessed such a severe cyclone in her entire life, the Chief Minister said, "I would request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come and visit affected areas."

Banerjee also said that she would soon visit the affected areas. "We will soon start the restoration work. There have large scale power cuts in many areas of Kolkata and North and South 24 Parganas, while telephone and mobile connections are also down in many parts," Banerjee said.

20:02 May 21

Cyclone Amphan affects 44.80 lakh people in Odisha

As many as 44.80 lakh people in 89 blocks have been affected in Odisha by cyclone Amphan, according to an official, here on Thursday.

As per the preliminary reports, around 6,745 villages in 1,500 panchayats under 89 blocks had been affected by cyclone Amphan, said Odisha Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy. Crop in nearly 100,000 hectares land was damaged, he added.

Around 44 lakh consumers had been affected, he said during a National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) meeting, chaired by Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba through video link, to review damages caused by the cyclone.

Tripathy said damages to agriculture would be assessed within two days.

Around 2,00,400 people have been evacuated and sheltered in 3,228 cyclone shelters and other buildings. The social distancing norms were being maintained, he added.

17:56 May 21

Cyclone Amphan kills 72 in West Bengal: Mamata; no stone will be left unturned to help affected, says PM

A powerful cyclone Amphan that tore into West Bengal has killed 72 people and completely devastated two districts as Kolkata and several parts of the state wore a battered look on Thursday a day after the storm left thousands of people homeless, washed away bridges and swamped low-lying areas.

The fiercest cyclone to hit West Bengal in 100 years that destroyed mud houses and agriculture crops, and uprooted trees and electric poles also wreaked havoc in Odisha damaging power and telecom infrastructure in several coastal districts. Odisha government officials estimated it has affected around 44.8 lakh people in the state.

"So far as per the reports we have received, 72 people have died in the state due to Cyclone Amphan. Two districts North and South 24 Parganas are completely devastated. We have to rebuild those districts from scratch. I would urge the Central government to extend all help to the state," Banerjee told reporters after conducting a review meeting with officials.
 

"I will visit the affected areas very soon. The restoration work will start soon. A large part of North and South 24 Parganas and Kolkata are facing massive power cut since last evening. Even telephone and mobile connections are down," she said.

"I have never witnessed such a fierce cyclone and destruction in my life. I would request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come and visit Cyclone Amphan-affected areas.

The chief minister also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh for the family members of each of the deceased.

Besides North and South 24 Parganas and Kolkata, the districts of East Midnapore and Howrah were the worst hit as portions of several dilapidated buildings came crashing down in several places.

Senior officials of the West Bengal government said it was too early to estimate the exact death toll or damage to property as the worst hit areas were still not accessible.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said no stone will be left unturned in helping those affected by the cyclone.

"Have been seeing visuals from West Bengal on the devastation caused by Cyclone Amphan," he tweeted.  

16:54 May 21

A team of Union Home Ministry will visit the states to evaluate the damages done by cyclone Amphan. The number of deaths & injuries may rise in West Bengal: NDRF Chief SN Pradhan

16:53 May 21

India Meteorological Department's prediction regarding cyclone Amphan was accurate. All agencies working on the ground are grateful for it.

"Damages have been minimized due to the accurate prediction by the IMD," informed NDRF Chief SN Pradhan.

16:52 May 21

The Union Cabinet Secretary held a meeting with the West Bengal & Odisha Chief Secretaries to estimate the damage & response, earlier today. Normalcy will return in the next 24 to 48 hours in Odisha: NDRF Chief SN Pradhan

16:50 May 21

No damage done to aircraft parked at Kolkata airport

No damage occurred from flooding of Kolkata airport from cyclone Amphan.

"There is some damage to the hangar. A small private aircraft which was parked in the hangar has been damaged," informed Rajiv Bansal, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Air India.

16:05 May 21

CM Mamata Banerjee announced that families of those who died due to Cyclone Amphan will receive 2.5 lakhs each. A task force has already been constituted to monitor the situation.

Cyclone Amphan claimed 72 lives in West Bengal before heading towards Bangladesh.

15:29 May 21

73 deaths reported from Amphan in West Bengal, Odisha

A total of 73 casualties were reported from cyclone Amphan in West Bengal and Odisha.

As per West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, 72 of the total casualties were reported in her state.

14:35 May 21

Tikiapara coach yard in Howrah district flooded following heavy rainfall received yesterday due to Cyclone Amphan.

14:16 May 21

PM assures all help to cyclone-hit West Bengal

No stone will be left unturned in helping those affected by cyclone 'Amphan', Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday.

The cyclone has left at least 12 people dead and damaged infrastructure in the state.

"In this challenging hour, the entire nation stands in solidarity with West Bengal. Praying for the well-being of the people of the state. Efforts are on to ensure normalcy," he tweeted. 

14:05 May 21

Cyclone Amphan weakens significantly, currently lays over Bangladesh: IMD

The India Meteorological Department said on Thursday that 'Amphan' has weakened significantly and moved over to Bangladesh as a cyclonic storm after clobbering West Bengal, leaving at least 12 dead and blowing up shanties, uprooting thousands of trees and swamping low-lying areas.

In the next three to six hours it will further dissipate into a deep depression and a depression, the two stages that signify a further weakening of the cyclone, it said.

The IMD said under the influence of the storm, squalls with wind speed 30 to 40 kilometres per hour are very likely in Meghalaya and west Assam during the next 12 hours.

The western districts of Assam and Meghalaya will also witness "light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places", it added.

According to the weatherman, Amphan was the fiercest cyclone to hit West Bengal in the last 100 years.

14:04 May 21

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba reviews situation in Odisha, West Bengal

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Thursday reviewed situation in the cyclone-affected areas of Odisha and West Bengal with the States and Central Ministries/Agencies concerned in the aftermath of cyclone Amphan, the Government of India said.

Chief Secretaries of Odisha and West Bengal informed that timely and accurate forecast by India Meteorological Department and advance deployment of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) facilitated in the evacuation of about five lakh people in West Bengal and about two lakh in Odisha, the government informed.

14:02 May 21

Amit Shah speaks to CMs of Odisha, Bengal; assures help to deal with situation after cyclone

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday spoke to chief ministers of Odisha and West Bengal - Naveen Patnaik and Mamata Banerjee respectively - and assured them of all central help to deal with the situation arising due to cyclone Amphan.

Shah also said he was constantly monitoring the situation in the two cyclone-hit states.

"I have also spoken to CM Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik ji & CM West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee ji over situation arising due to the cyclone and assured all possible help from centre," he tweeted.

The home minister said the teams of the National Disaster Response Force are already on the ground to help the people affected by the cyclone.

"We are closely monitoring the cyclone Amphan and are in continuous touch with concerned authorities," he said.

13:25 May 21

Meeting in Nabanna on aftermath of Cyclone Amphan

A meeting to be conducted at Nabanna to find out casualities and level of destruction by Cyclone Amphan. CM Mamata Banerjee may attend this meeting.

12:39 May 21

NDMA advises people not to venture out till 'all clear' by government

12:38 May 21

Roads clearance process has picked up pace & has been completed in some localities. It'll take some time to restore electricity&telecom services in affected areas which will need assistance of technicians & gangmen&we're ready to help them wherever required, informed NDRF Chief SN Pradhan.

We are airlifting four more teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from other parts of India as requested by the Chief Secretary of West Bengal for restoration work, he added.

He further added that it's a massive challenge for NDRF to carry out restoration work in view of COVID-19.

"Our teams were semi-prepared for Amphan as they were preparing for combination of COVID-19 & floods. Our personnel observe protocols of social distancing & sanitization," he asserted.

12:13 May 21

11:38 May 21

A portion of Kolkata Airport was heavily flooded in wake of Amphan cyclone.

10:56 May 21

12 Killed in West Bengal due to Amphan

A total of 12 deaths were reported in West Bengal due to cyclone Amphan on Wednesday.

The reported deaths included 2 from Kolkata, 3 from East Medinapur, 1 from Hooghly, 2 from North 24 Pargana and 1 from Nadia.

10:54 May 21

Cyclone Amphan weakens, centres over Bangladesh

A day of killing 12 people after barrelling in from the Bay of Bengal with wind speeds up to 185 kmph, severe cyclonic storm Amphan on Thursday weakened and lay centered over Bangladesh about 270 north-northeastwards of Kolkata with a wind speed of 27 kmph.

The super cyclonic storm Amphan (pronounced as UM-PUN) moved "north-northeastwards with a speed of 27 kmph during the past six hours, further weakened into a cyclonic storm and lay centered at 5.30 a.m. on Thursday over Bangladesh near latitude 24.7 degrees N and Longitude 89.5 degrees E about 270 km north-northeast of Kolkata, 150 km south of Dhubri and 110 km south-southeast of Rangpur (Bangladesh)", the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

"It is very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards and weaken further into a deep depression during the next three hours and into a depression during subsequent six hours," the IMD said.

It said that the Cyclone is now centred over Bangladesh and it will have no adverse impact over West Bengal and Odisha -- a good sign as it cut a swathe through northern Odisha before bearing down on West Bengal where it claimed 10-12 lives, flattened houses and cast aside trees and electricity poles like matchsticks in six-and-a-half hours of monstrous fury that left Kolkata and most of south Bengal pulverised.

While Odisha was spared the worst of Amphan, the Suderbans region and six south Bengal districts felt the full impact of winds gusting at 155-165 kmph along with torrential rain after the cyclone made landfall near Sagar Island around 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday and entered Kolkata, about a 100 km north, around 5 p.m.

Amphan, a Thai name that means sky, is the most severe storm in the Bay of Bengal since the Odisha super cyclone of 1999.

10:48 May 21

Minister of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, West bengal, Firhad Hakim visited different areas of South Kolkata on Wednesday night in order to cognizance of the Amphan situation in the region.

He left the Municipal Corporation office at around 11.30 pm and visited several areas, mostly drowned due to Amphan.

10:05 May 21

Cuttack DM Bhabani Shankar Chainey visited several parts of the district to take cognizance of the situation post-Amphan.

09:30 May 21

More than 80 electric poles and several trees were uprooted in different areas of Mayurbhanj district including Baruni road, Jail road, Laxmiposi road, Belagadia and Kacheri road.

09:04 May 21

Cyclone Apmhan moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 27 km/ph during past 6 hours

Cyclone Apmhan moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 27 km/ph during past 6 hours, further weakened into a cyclonic storm and lay centered over Bangladesh, about 270 km north-northeast of Kolkata: India Meteorological Department (IMD)

08:46 May 21

A day after heavy rainfall and strong winds - due to Cyclone Amphan - hit the region and other parts of Odisha.

A day after heavy rainfall and strong winds - due to Cyclone Amphan - hit the region and other parts of Odisha.

08:41 May 21

hops open in Patrapada area of Balasore as normalcy returns here

Shops open in Patrapada area of Balasore, Odisha as normalcy returns here, a day after heavy rainfall and strong winds - due to Cyclone Amphan - hit the region and other parts of the state.

A day after heavy rainfall and strong winds - due to Cyclone Amphan - hit the region and other parts of Odisha.

08:36 May 21

Reports said that Amphan has already destroyed over 5,000 houses in Minakhan, Haroa, Basirhat Hingalgunj and Hasnabad areas of North 24 Parganas district.

08:21 May 21

The cyclone is very likely to weaken into a deep depression during the next 3 hours as per India IMD

08:07 May 21

Severe cyclonic storm Amphan caused severe damages in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24 Parganas districts and their nearby areas, on Wednesday.

08:06 May 21

Destruction caused by Amphan in West Bengal

08:04 May 21

Trees uprooted as Cyclone Amphan creates havoc in West Bengal

07:56 May 21

Trees uprooted and waterlogging in several parts of Kolkata in wake of Cyclone Amphan. The cyclone is very likely to weaken into a deep depression during the next 3 hours as per India IMD.

07:55 May 21

Trees uprooted and waterlogging in several parts of Kolkata in wake of Cyclone Amphan

Severe cyclonic storm Amphan over Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coast moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 30 km/ph during the past 6 hours. Very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards and weaken further into a deep depression during the next 3 hours: IMD

07:51 May 21

Forecast of Super Cyclone Amphan

Track forecast of Super Cyclone Amphan.

07:36 May 21

Restoration work by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel underway at Airport Road in Kolkata

NDRF carrying out restoration work in Kolkata

Restoration work by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel underway at Airport Road in Kolkata, West Bengal: SN Pradhan, Director General of National Disaster Response Force

07:24 May 21

Road clearance and restoration work underway in Kolkata

Road clearance work underway in Kolkata

Road clearance and restoration work underway in Kolkata, West Bengal: SN Pradhan, DG National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

07:06 May 21

Amphan updates

Kolkata:Extremely severe cyclone 'Amphan' has killed at least 12 persons and ravaged Kolkata and several parts of West Bengal as it left behind a trail of destruction by uprooting trees, destroying thousands of homes and swamping low-lying areas of the state.

While a man and a woman were killed when trees came crashing down on them in North 24 Parganas district, a 13-year-old girl died in a similar incident in adjoining Howrah, officials said.

"Three persons were killed in Hooghly and North 24 Paraganas districts due to electrocution," they said.

A woman and her seven-year-old son were reportedly killed in the Regent park area of Kolkata after a tree fell on them.

They said a person was killed in Kolkata after being hit by a flying object during the storm.

Senior state officials said that it was too early to estimate a toll on life or damage to property as the hardest hit areas were still not accessible.

Packing heavy rain and winds with speeds of up to 190 kmph, extremely severe cyclone Amphan slammed Digha coast of West Bengal at 2.30 pm on Wednesday, triggering heavy rainfall and gustings in various parts of the state.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been monitoring the situation at state secretariat Nabanna since Tuesday night, said the impact of Amphan was "worse than coronavirus".

The cyclone barrelled through coastal districts of North and South 24 Paraganas of Bengal, unleashing copious rain and windstorm, blowing away thatched houses, uprooting trees, electric poles and swamping low lying towns and villages, officials said.

Strong winds with speed up to 125 kmph per hour upturned cars in Kolkata and felled trees and electricity poles blocking important roads and intersections.

Reports arriving in Kolkata from North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore said that roofs of thatched houses were blown away, electric poles got twisted and hundreds of trees broken and uprooted.

There was a massive power cut in large parts of Kolkata, North 24 Paraganas and South Paraganas. The mobile and internet services were also down as the cyclone had damaged several communication towers.

Streets and homes in low lying areas of Kolkata were swamped with rainwater.

Portions of several dilapidated buildings came crashing down in Kolkata and other parts of the state.

Embankments in Sundarban delta - a UNESCO site - were breached as the surge whipped up by the cyclone inundated several kilometers of the Island.

TV footage showed gigantic tidal waves crashing into a seawall in Digha and Sunderban region.

Thick sheets of rain blurred the state's coastline as surging waters engulfed mud-and-thatch houses, flattening them in a trice.

Heavy machinery was moved in to clear the roads blocked by falling trees.

More than five lakh people have been evacuated to safety by the state government. 

(With inputs from PTI)