Yaas is the name of a tropical cyclone that is set to hit eastern coastal areas of Odisha and West Bengal on Wednesday, barely a week after cyclone ‘Tauktae’ battered the western coast leaving behind a trail of destruction.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday afternoon said that Severe Cyclone Yaas is now very likely to cross coasts of north Odisha and West Bengal between Paradip and Sagar Island, close to the north of Dhamra and south of Balasore, during the noon tomorrow. When Yaas makes landfall tomorrow, it would have intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm.
The cyclone, as per a bulletin issued at 12.15 pm, moved northwestwards with a speed of about 17 kmph during the past 6 hours and lay centred at 8.30 am over Westcentral and adjoining East-central and the north Bay of Bengal, about 280 km south-southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 380 km south-southeast of Balasore (Odisha), 370 km south-southeast of Digha (West Bengal) and 370 km south-southwest of Sagar Islands (West Bengal).
According to the Indian Meteorological department “Yaas is very likely to move north-north-westwards, intensify further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours and into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during subsequent 12 hours. It would continue to move north-north-westwards, intensify further and reach Northwest Bay of Bengal near north Odisha and West Bengal coasts by 26th May early morning. It is very likely to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar Island around Balasore, during noon of 26th May as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.”
Further IMD also gave warning to states including Sikkim on moderate rainfall on May 26 and 27 and heavy rainfalls at some isolated areas
The National Bulletin of IMD suggested “: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places over coastal districts of West Bengal on 24th, heavy to very heavy rainfall over Medinipur, South 24 Parganas and heavy rainfall at isolated places in Howrah, Hooghly, & north 24 Parganas districts on 25th, extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places over Jhargram, Medinipur, south 24 Parganas and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over Purulia, Bankura, Bardhaman, Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata, north 24 Parganas, Bhirbhum and heavy falls at isolated places over Nadia, Murshidabad, Darjeeling Districts on 26th May and heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places in Malda & Darjeeling, Dinajpur, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Sikkim and heavy rain at a few places over Bankura, Purulia, Bardhaman, Bhirbhum & Murshidabad on 27th May.”
Including Sikkim, eight states have been given warning on rainfall due to Yaas storm.
The government of Sikkim also issued a notification on preparedness to tackle the ensuring damages, the order instructed all the line departments/ power projects /NHIDCL to put men and machinery on the field for 72 hours 24*7 on an alert basis in east Sikkim
Further, the notification also directed the police forces te alert and intensify patrolling along the riverside areas
Furthermore, it was also mentioned that the control room of the District Disaster Control room to be staffed adequately and manned phone lines on 24*7 basis with QRT teams ready at all subdivisions.
Dr G.N Raha, “Meteorological officer, Department of Meteorological Sikkim said “ According to the position of the Yaas storm it is expected to hit the West Bengal coast on May 26 noon and which will affect Sikkim in terms of cloud marks over the sky, in fact since today morning cloud marks have started in Sikkim with moderate rainfalls”
There is no direct impact to the Yaas Cyclone since it is not going to move in our direction, its movement is north-westward but the indirect impact will such as moderate rainfall on May 26 and 27” he added
“There is also the chance of heavy rainfalls at some isolated areas, on May 26 on some areas of East and North district is to expect heavy rainfall and on May 27 East, West and North is expected” he added.