Cyclone Amphan: Cyclonic Storm Makes Landfall In West Bengal's Digha Coast; To Hit Kolkata In Evening

After landfall, Amphan is likely to move north northeast close to Kolkata. At the time of crossing coast, the wind speed will be around 155-165kmph and the cyclone is likely to retain intensity till May 21 morning.

Residents walk along a street to a shelter ahead of the expected landfall of cyclone Amphan in Digha, West Bengal. (Image: AFP)

New Delhi: According to latest update by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the landfall process of cyclone 'Amphan' commenced at 2.30 pm and will continue for four hours. As per the 3 pm update by the weather agency, "Landfall process commenced since 2.30 p.m. The forward sectors of the wall cloud region are entering into land in West Bengal and the landfall process will continue for four hours." Weather forecast official has stated that the cyclone will cross West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts between Digha and Hatiya Islands in Bangladesh close to Sunderbans. Currently, the cyclone lay centred about 170 km east-northeast of Odisha's Paradip, 105 km south-southeast of West Bengal's Digha and 90 km from Sagar Island and 240 km southwest of Bangladesh's Khepupara.

After crossing Sunderbans, #CycloneAmphan is expected to pass near Kolkata. 110 - 120 kmph wind speed is expected in Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly districts. - DG, @Indiametdept #CycloneAmphanUpdate #CycloneAmphan pic.twitter.com/hvwfVY0w9m

— PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) May 20, 2020

After landfall, Amphan is likely to move north northeast close to Kolkata. At the time of crossing coast, the wind speed will be around 155-165kmph and the cyclone is likely to retain intensity till May 21 morning. To tackle the natural calamity, states like West Bengal, Odisha have stepped up in taking various measures for keeping the people safe from the hazard. For the same, West Bengal CM held a review meeting with state officials and formed a special rescue force. More than 3 lakh people were moved to safer places especially from districts that will be severely impacted by the cyclone.

#CycloneAmphan makes #Landfall : the fury of #Amphan near Digha, West Bengal Video credit : Shamit Bhoumik@PIBBhubaneswar #CycloneAmphanUpdate pic.twitter.com/JScKMfeDt1

— PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) May 20, 2020

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.