Odisha Prepares For Amphan Fury, Evacuates Over 1 Lakh From 13 Districts

The Odisha government has evacuated over I lakh people from 13 districts that will be severely affected by the Super Cyclone Amphan.

Photo Credit: ANI

New Delhi: As Amphan approaches landfall, the Odisha government has stepped up its preparation and has evacuated over I lakh people from 13 districts that will be severely affected by the cyclone. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has informed that the super cyclone is expected to cross West Bengal – Bangladesh coasts between Digha (WB) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) around in the afternoon or evening today. Odisha anticipates heavy rainfall and strong winds to batter the state today. As preparation, the Odisha government has set up 1704 shelter camps. The cyclone will have a greater impact on 13 districts of the state and people have been moved from these locations. According to reports, coastal district Kendrapara will be hit several and around 32,060 have been evacuated. This is followed by Bhadrak and Balasore with 26,174 and 23, 142 evacuations. On Tuesday, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also spoke to Members of Parliament of the areas that could be affected by Cyclone Amphan. "He urged them to be in touch with the people of their areas proactively and guide them about the arrangements being made by the agencies concerned," read a Lok Sabha press release. The Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to both Naveen Patnaik and Mamata Banerjee regarding the situation of Amphan and assured them that the Central Government is ready to provide any support needed by them. He had also informed Banerjee that teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in the state and that the center is committed to helping the state. Also Watch: (inputs from ANI)