IMD Issues Fresh Alert For West Bengal, Odisha As 'Amphan' Intensifies, PM Holds Review Meet

Super Cyclone Amphan set to make landfall in West Bengal on Wednesday evening. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviews the preparation for dealing with the impact of the cyclone.

Photo: Twitter/@Indiametdept

New Delhi:  The Eastern states West Bengal and Odisha are bracing for the cyclone Amphan which  is set to make landfall in West Bengal on Wednesday evening.  The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued a fresh cyclone alert for both states as the extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Amphan' was over the central parts of the South Bay of Bengal and adjoining central Bay of Bengal. In a statement, the IMD said the super cyclonic storm Amphan (pronounced as UM-PUN) over Westcentral and adjoining Eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved nearly north-northeastwards with a speed of 14 kmph during the past six hours. The Indian Metrological Department(IMD) has also informed via a tweet that ‘Amphan is likely to make landfall between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) close to Sundarbans as an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm in the afternoon/evening of 20th May.’

The Super Cyclonic AMPHAN at 2330 hrs IST of 18 th May, 2020 near latitude 14.9°N and longitude 86.5°E over Westcentral Bay of Bengal about 600 km nearly south of Paradip (Odisha), 750 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal) pic.twitter.com/cNSdwLEkq0

— India Met. Dept. (@Indiametdept) May 18, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting yesterday, with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) & National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to review the preparations for dealing with the impact of the cyclone. In a tweet, he said that he had reviewed the preparedness regarding the situation due to Amphan. ’ The response measures as well as evacuation plans were discussed. I pray for everyone's safety and assure all possible support from the Central Government.

Reviewed the preparedness regarding the situation due to cyclone ‘Amphan.’ The response measures as well as evacuation plans were discussed. I pray for everyone's safety and assure all possible support from the Central Government. https://t.co/VJGCRE7jBO

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 18, 2020

According to a news report by the IANS, the IMD has said the super cyclone will severely impact South and North 24 Parganas and East Medinipur districts of West Bengal. "Amphan is expected to make the biggest impact in South and North 24 Parganas and East Medinipur districts of West Bengal. It will cross West Bengal and Bangladesh coast between Digha and Hatia island during the afternoon to the evening of May 20, with a maximum wind speed of 165-175 kmph, gusting to 195 kmph," said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology, IMD. Since Amphan has turned into a super cyclone the Met department also said that the coastal districts of West Bengal will experience heavy to extremely heavy rainfall on May 19 and 20. Coastal districts of Odisha will also experience heavy to very heavy rainfall. The report says that IMD has also advised for a complete shutdown of shipping and boating activities till May 20 and rerouting or shutting down of rail and road traffic in areas where the cyclone will impact the most.