While India is still recovering from the aftermath of Cyclone Tauktae, another powerful cyclone is already on its way. Cyclone Yaas which has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm will intensify further and transform into a very severe category storm in next 12 hours. The intensity of cyclonic storm Yaas is likely to be similar to that of cyclone Tauktae which had hit the westeren coast of India last week leaving more than 104 people dead and a vast trail of destruction.

A yellow alert has been declared both in Odisha and West Bengal after cyclonic storm 'Yaas' moved slowly north-northwestwards and is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

According to IMD, cyclone Yaas, which is bearing down on Bengal and Odisha from the Bay of Bengal, will make landfall near Balasore coast in Odisha, 240km from Kolkata on May, Wednesday, 26 noon with a thunderous wind speed of 155kmph-165kmph. While Bengal will avoid a direct hit, several of its districts, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia – falling within the core area of Yaas are likely to be severely affected. Each of these districts may receive heavy rain accompanied by very high wind speed.

Cyclone Yaas surge

In Odisha, it will fall at Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore and the storm is expected to generate wind speeds of 155-165kmph, with gusts up to 185kmph, during landfall. After landfall, the storm will head towards Jharkhand as a weakened depression.

While Red alert warning issued for Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore for today and tomorrow, Orange alert has been issued because of heavy to very heavy rainfall expected in Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khorda and Puri said the IMD official.

Cyclone Yaas tracker

According to the IMD, Odisha, “We are expecting wind speeds of 150-160 kmph gusting 180kmph over Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore tomorrow as landfall is expected by noon. We have issued the highest danger warning for Dhamra and Paradip ports.”

Cyclone Yaas can be compared to the damage with the last Cyclone, Amphan which had assumed the shape of a Super Cyclone last year at about the same time. Amphan had hit the Sunderbans in south Bengal on May 20 last year with a wind speed of 155–165 km per hour and gusting up to 185 km per hour. It had killed 98 people while pummelling through six districts.

Named by Oman, in accordance with a standard procedure, Yaas is the first cyclonic storm to develop over the Bay of Bengal in 2021. The word Yaas is said to have originated from the Arabic language and it means despair or disappointment.

The PM has also held a meeting with various ministries and agencies to deal with the cyclone and has taken stock of relief and rescue operations. Shipping Minister Mansukh Bhai Mandavia is in constant touch with two important ports of the East Coast – Paradip Port Trust and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port Trust. Army, Navy preparations are at war-footing. The IAF has kept one C-17, one IL-76, three C-130s, four AN-32s, and two Dornier transport aircraft in readiness for any HADR task. Additionally, eleven Mi-17V5s, two Chetaks, three Cheetahs, two ALH Dhruvs and seven Mi17 helicopters are also on alert for any operations.

In addition, Naval Aircraft and helicopters in Visakhapatnam and Port Blair are on operational readiness to undertake search and rescue missions. Seven flood relief teams and two diving teams are ready at different locations in Andaman and Nicobar Islands to deal with any eventuality.

Eastern Railways has suspended 25 trains between May 24 and May 29 in view of Cyclone Yaas. As many as 52 NDRF teams, 50 to 60 ODRAF teams and 175 to 200 fire teams have been dispatched to their respective assigned locations. The teams will work in rescue and relief operations.

The Covid-19 pandemic has added to the worries of the administration. Even though Cyclone Amphan had also hit when Covid-19 was taking its toll, this time the situation is more alarming.