Odisha and West Bengal state government have started evacuating people from coastal areas to safer places in view of the warning of strong winds and heavy rains.
Cyclone 'Amphan' has intensified into a super cyclonic storm and has moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 15 kmph during the past six hours. It now lay centered over the west-central Bay of Bengal and is very likely to cross West Bengal – Bangladesh coasts between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) close to Sundarbans on May 20 evening.
"The Super Cyclonic Storm ‘AMPHAN’ (pronounced as UM-PUN) over the west-central Bay of Bengal moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 15 kmph during the past six hours and now lay centred at 0830 hrs IST of 19th May, 2020 near latitude 16.0°N and longitude 86.8°E over west-central Bay of Bengal about 480 km nearly south of Paradip (Odisha), 630 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal) and 750 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh)," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on this day.
Odisha government has started evacuating 11 lakh people from coastal areas in view of the warning of strong winds and heavy rains due to Cyclone 'Amphan'. The government authorities are transporting the evacuees to temporary shelter homes.
The West Bengal government has also started evacuating people from low-lying areas to safer places.
The super cyclone ‘AMPHAN’ is now being continuously tracked by the Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) at Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the response preparedness against Cyclone 'Amphan'.
The Prime Minister took full stock of the situation and reviewed the measures as well as the evacuation plan presented by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said.
During a presentation on the response plan, the NDRF director general informed that 25 NDRF teams have been deployed on the ground, while 12 others are ready in reserve.
Twenty-four other NDRF teams are also on standby in different parts of the country, the force chief told the meeting, the statement said.
Here are the latest updates on the 'Amphan' cyclonic storm situation in India on Tuesday, 19th May 2020:
16:34 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
This is the most intense cyclone - the second super cyclone - which has been formed in Bay of Bengal after 1999. Its wind speed in the sea right now is 200-240 kmph. It is moving towards north northwestward direction: IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra
16:32 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
We've kept addl backup. 6 NDRF Battalions - 11, 9, 1, 10, 4, 5 have been identified for it. 11 battalion is in Varanasi, 9 in Patna, 1 in Guwahati, 10 in Vijaywada, 4 in Arakkonam and 5 battalion in Pune. They have military airports&troops can be brought on short notice: NDRF Chief
Every Battalion has 4 teams, so there are 24 teams on standby: NDRF Chief SN Pradhan
16:31 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
It is for the first time that we are having to face two disasters simultaneously, we are facing a dual challenge of "Cyclone in the time of #COVID19". We are taking action according to the enormity of this challenge: DG, NDRF
16:30 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
NDRF's 15 teams in Odisha and 19 teams in West Bengal have been deployed on the ground and have started work of awareness, communication and evacuation. Even if all communication lines break down, they will be able to communicate with NDRF: DG, NDRF
AmphanCyclone will make landfall tomorrow, it will be in the category of extremely severe cyclonic storm, preparedness is being taken accordingly: DG, NDRF
14:29 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
NDRF teams increased in Bengal. Total 17 teams deployed
Deployment Teams Details location & Strength
1. North 24 Parganas ( Dhamkhali,Hasnabad & Hingalganj) 3 Teams
2. South 24 Parganas
( Kakdwip, Pathar Pratima, Kakdwip (2), Sagar Island, Namkhana & Basanti
6 Teams.
3.Purba Medinippur
(Digha-2,Contai-I,Nandigram) 4 Teams
4.Hoogly
( Arambagh) 1 Team
5. Howrah
( Uluberia-I) 1 Team
6. Kolkata
(Standby at RRC Rajarhat)
4 Teams
14:20 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Reviewing preparedness of states & central agencies, Cabinet Secretary asked state governments to ensure timely & complete evacuation of people from low lying areas in cyclone path & maintain adequate quantities of essential supplies such as food, drinking water, & medicines: MHA
14:19 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
They also informed all actions have been taken to stock food grains, drinking water and other essential supplies. Teams for maintenance and restoration of power and telecom services have also been positioned: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
14:16 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Chief Secretary, Odisha and Additional Chief Secretary, West Bengal apprised National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) of preparatory measures taken by them. They informed that evacuation of people from the low lying areas is being carried out: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
14:14 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba chaired the third meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) to review the preparedness of States and Central Ministries/Agencies to deal with the Cyclonic Storm ‘AMPHAN’: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
13:30 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Super Cyclone AMPHAN is likely to make landfall between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) close to Sundarbans with maximum sustained wind 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph during the afternoon to the evening of tomorrow: IMD
12:34 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning to suspend all fishing activity in West Bengal and Odisha till May 20, in the wake of super cyclone #Amphan; Visuals from Odisha's Bhadrak, one of the 6 districts expected to be affected due to the cyclone
12:26 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
West Bengal: Residents of Tajpur, East Medinipur create a temporary fence along the coast, in the wake of #AmphanCyclone
11:37 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
The Super Cyclone ‘AMPHAN’ is now being continuously tracked by the Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) at Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh): IMD
11:25 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
HM Amit Shah speaks to CM of WB. Reviewed Cyclone Amphan situation and offered all requisite help.
11:20 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning to suspend all fishing activity in Bengal and Odisha till May 20, in the wake of super cyclone #Amphan; Visuals from Odisha's Paradip
10:49 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur & Jagatsinghpur districts to be most affected. We are expecting it will cross land by becoming a very severe cyclonic storm: Umashankar Das, Deputy Director, IMD Bhubaneswar, Odisha on #AmphanCyclone
10:41 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Odisha: A team of National Disaster Response Force deployed in Jagatsinghpur urges villagers to shift to cyclone shelters in the area, in the wake #AmphanCyclone
10:26 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
#AmphanCyclone: Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba to chair a meeting of the National Crisis Monitoring Committee at 12.00 noon today. Apart from the readiness of NDRF and defence forces, power and telecommunications departments directed to be ready with emergency response.
10:23 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Tripura govt has directed its Dist administrations to take necessary preparedness measures as IMD Agartala has forecast thunderstorm accompanied by lightning,gusty wind speed reaching 40-50kmph&heavy rainfall at isolated placed in all districts during 20-21 May.
08:51 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Odisha: Residents from coastal areas of Jagatsinghpur were shifted to a cyclone shelter last night, to protect them from heavy rains and winds to be caused by super cyclonic storm ‘AMPHAN’
08:43 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Super Cyclonic Storm ‘AMPHAN’ over west-central and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 14 km/ph during past 6 hours & lay centered at 5:30 am today over the west-central Bay of Bengal about 520 km nearly south of Paradip, Odisha: IMD
08:41 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Maiden cyclone of this pre-monsoon season Amphan, also grabs the distinction of becoming the only super cyclone in the Bay of Bengal since the year 2000. It is still intensifying, and the wind speed is all set to breach the mark of 275kmph, rarely achieved in the past: Skymet Weather
07:55 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
#AmphanCyclone is very likely to move north-northeastwards across northwest Bay of Bengal&cross West Bengal–Bangladesh coasts between Dig&Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) close to Sundarbans during afternoon/evening today as an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm: IMD
07:50 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Squally wind speed reaching 55 to 65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph extend to along and off north Odisha coast from the morning of May 19 and along and off West Bengal coast from the afternoon: IMD.
07:45 IST Tuesday, 19 May 2020
The IMD, which has issued an "orange message" for West Bengal, warned of extensive damage in Kolkata, Hooghly, Howrah, South and North 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts.
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