Ground Report: Is Odisha ready to tackle severe cyclonic storm 'Yaas'? | Matrabhumi

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) prepared 149 teams for evacuation and rescue operations in West Bengal and Odisha. Out of these, 99 will be deployed on the ground and the remaining 50 will be available at the force's various bases across the country for swift airlift if necessary.

NDRF teams even evacuated villagers living in the interiors of Duttapur in West Bengal owing to heavy rains ahead of Cyclone Yaas. More than 800 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) personnel are in a high state of readiness for Cyclone Yaas.

Cyclone Yaas is expected to hit the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal on May 26. IMD's latest news on Cyclone Yaas has revealed that the storm is currently 320km South-southeast (SSE) of Paradip and 430km SSE of Balasore.