Cyclone Komen: West Bengal administration on high-alert

With West Bengal Chief Minister cutting short her London trip to visit flood-hit state, she has put the state administration on toes to keep a close watch on the present situation.

Cyclone Komen, which is slowly approaching the coast of West Bengal is likely to hit anytime today before noon, say Met Department officials.

The cyclone Komen made a landfall at Bangladesh last evening and turned towards West Bengal. However, Met officials say that the cyclone is losing intensity with it approaching the Bengal coast.

"Cyclone Komen hit the Bangladesh coast at 8.30pm on Thursday. After making a landfall, the cyclone has weakened into a depression. With the cyclone approaching Bengal coast, it is gradually losing intensity," said M Mohapatra, head of the cyclone warning centre of the Indian Met Department.

While the state administration has put districts like Nadia, Murshidabad, Birbhum, North and South 24 parganas on high alert which may experience flood-like situation, Kolkata has been alerted for heavy to very heavy rains on Friday.

Bengal ministers have been asked to visit the flood-hit districts to monitor rescue and relief operations.

As many as 27,000 people across the state have been shifted to relief camps.

Meanwhile, the state has launched an emergency helpline number 1070.