Cyclone Yaas to hit Odisha around noon, Bengal on alert

The cyclone is currently centred at about 40 kilometres from Dhamra region of Odisha, the Indian Meteorological Department said.

Rains are lashing several parts of West Bengal and Odisha since Tuesday.

"Very Severe Cyclonic Storm YAAS to cross Odisha coast between Dhamra and Balasore around noon of 26th May with wind speed of 130-140KMPH," IMD tweeted.

IMD said light to moderate rainfall is expected to be experienced by different parts of Odisha and West Bengal.

"Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall over Medinipur, South 24 Parganas and heavy rainfall at isolated places in Howrah, Hooghly,Kolkata & north 24 Parganas districts on 25th, extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places over Medinipur and heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over Jhargram, Bankura, south 24 Parganas and heavy falls at isolated places over Purulia, Nadia, Murshidabad, east Bardhaman, Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata, north 24 Parganas, Haldia, Darjeeling, Kalimpong Districts on 26th May and heavy rain at isolated places in Jhargram, west Medinipur, Bankura,  Purulia, west Bardhaman, Bhirbhum, Malda,  Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri on 27th May," IMD said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army's Eastern Command is spearheading Army's  response for rescue and relief operations in West Bengal in preparations for Cyclone Yaas, which is scheduled to make landfall  on 26 May 21.

The deployment of Army columns is based on requisition and is in close coordination with the Government of West Bengal.

A total of seventeen integrated Cyclone Relief Columns, comprising specialised personnel with associated equipment and inflatable boats, have been deployed.  Columns have been prepositioned at Purulia, Jhargram, Birbhum, Bardhaman, West Midnapur, Howrah, Hoogly, Nadia, 24 Parganas North & South.

Nine Cyclone Relief columns have also been kept on standby at Kolkata, for redeployment  as necessary in West Bengal, at short notice.

These Teams are equipped to undertake rescue and relief operations to include casualty evacuation of stranded/ marooned persons, medical treatment, road clearing/ tree cutting and distribution of relief material, as would be required by the local district administration.

Bhubaneswar, Jharsuguda, Durgapur, Rourkela and Kolkata airports will remain shut for commercial purpose for several hours due to the cyclone.