New Delhi: The Indian Meterological Department has alerted the Coastal regions of Odisha and Bay of Bengal as the Cyclone Amphan has turned into an extermely severe storm. With the cyclonic storm intensifying in the last few hours, there is likelihood of heavy rainfall coupled with high-velocity winds in coastal districts of Odisha and parts of West Bengal.


"The Very Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Amphan’ over central parts of South Bay of Bengal moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 13 kmph during past six hours, intensified into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm and lay centred at 0230 hrs IST of today, the 18th May, 2020 over central parts of South Bay of Bengal and adjoining central Bay of Bengal near latitude 12.9°N and longitude 86.4°E, about 820 km nearly south of Paradip (Odisha), 980 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal) and 1090 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh),” the weather office said in its update on Monday morning.

“It is very likely to move north-northeastwards and move fast across northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts between Digha and Hatiya Islands during 09:00-12:00 pm of 20th May, 2020, as a very severe cyclonic storm,” IMD's latest bulletin read

Office of the Special Relief Commissioner Odisha on Sunday said that concerned government departments and 12 coastal and adjoining districts have been alerted and advised to undertake required measures in the backdrop impending danger from cyclone Amphan.

"Concerned departments of the government and 12 coastal and adjoining districts (Gajapati, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Puri, Khordha, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj) have been alerted and they have been advised to undertake required preparedness measures to effectively handle the disaster. Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts have been instructed to remain fully prepared," read a press release from Office of the Special Relief Commissioner, Odisha.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the preparedness on May 16 with concerned Departments and Collectors of 12 vulnerable districts.
"The District Administration of vulnerable districts have been directed to keep Multipurpose Cyclone and Flood Shelters in readiness and to identify other suitable RCC roofed public buildings for use as safe shelters in case of requirement," it read.
"Excluding the Multipurpose Cyclone and Flood Shelters currently being used as TMC for COVID-19, a total of 567 no. of MCS/MFS and 7092 no. of other permanent buildings with capacity to accommodate nearly 11 lakh people, maintaining the social distancing norms, has been identified in 12 districts."
"20 teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), 17 Teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 335 units of Fire and Disaster Management are in readiness to be pressed into service. 10 NDRF teams and 15 ODRAF units have been pre-positioned in 6 coastal and 4 nearby districts. Further deployment is being planned," the press release added. (With ANI inputs)