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Cyclone Amphan : 72 dead in India; cyclone reaches Bangladesh

The diameter of the eye of cyclone was nearly 30 km and was 15 feet tall with the wind speed of 185 kmph. Cyclone Amphan has weakened now and is over Bangladesh leaving 72 dead in West Bengal. It blew up shanties, uprooting thousands of trees and swamping low lying areas, said a report of Indian Meteorological Department.

It also said that it will dissipate into a depression and a deep depression which are the signs of further weakening of cyclone.

Happenings:

19 May: 32 NDRF teams deployed in Odisha, West Bengal, 21 teams were on standby mode to deal with cyclone Amphan. The Meteorological Department stands about 600 km south of Paradipin early in the morning. Updated reports of IMD told that the cyclone will move towards West Bengal as an extremely cyclonic storm. Cabinet Secretary chaired the meeting of National Crisis Monitoring Committee on Tuesday.

Tripura government also gets orders from the central government to prepare for the cyclone. Further reports of IMD told that 6 Odisha districts to be most affected when Super Cyclone makes landfall. Fishing activities suspended in West Bengal and Odisha till 20 May. Rahul Gandhi also appealed the Congress workers in West Bengal, Odisha to help people. Ferry services have been shut down in Bangladesh on the major routes and have prepared more than 12,000 cyclone shelter to evacuate people to coastal villages.

Cabinet Secretary chaired the third meeting of the National Crisis Managemnet Committee to review the preeparedness of states and central ministries. Odhisha broadcasted SMS based alert system, played tower siren to evacuate people. Updated reports of IMD stated that the extensive damage is expected due to devastating wind speed and Amphan will cross West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts on May 20. Telecommunication department and Power Ministry were ready with the plan to deal with the situation. Media reports stated that 3 lakh people were evacuated and were kept in relief camps as of around 9 pm on May 19. Odisha Chief Secretary told that the people form most vulnerable areas to be evacuated by the might of 19 May. Around midnight, Srikakulam districts also get alert from the district administration. Srikakulam is situated in Andhra Pradesh. Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla spoke to the MP’s and urged them to be in constant touch with the people of their zone.

May 20: Rainfall, strong winds hit Odisha’s Bhadrak ahead of Cyclone Amphan landfall. Amphan was expected to make landfall. IMD reports read that the cyclone will cross West Bengal- Bangladesh close to Sunderbans during the afternoon and evening hours of 20 May. 19 NDRF teams were deployed on the ground in West Bengal. 6 teams were deployed in South 24 Parganas, 4 teams each in East Midnapore and Kolkata, 3 teams in North 24 Parganas including 1 team in Hoogly and Howrah respectively. Over 1 lakh people were evacuated in Odisha as the cyclone moves towards Bengal coast from 13 most vulnerable coasts. Uprooted trees blocked the roads of Bhadrak district. on Wednesday after strong winds and rainfall hit the districts. All operations of Kolkata Airport suspended in the wake of cyclone till Thursday’s early morning. Indian Navy is put on high alert for the relief efforts in the wake of Amphan. Landfall of cyclone Amphan begins and to continue for 4 hours till 8 pm.

Bangladesh evacuates 1 million people ahead of Amphan landfall as of the evening of May 20. The power supply was cut in North and South 24 Parganas of West Bengal. Rainfall and strong winds in West Bengal’ North 24 Parganas as cyclone Amphan make landfall. This cyclone was weakened into a very severe cyclone storm, makes landfall in West Bengal, rainfall and heavy winds hit North 24 Parganas on Wednesday. Updated reports as of 11.20 pm say that 2 were killed and 5500 houses were damaged in North 24 Parganas as the cyclone hits West Bengal.

May 21: Bollywood also prayed for minimum destruction by this cyclone. They showered their praying through tweets. Alice Wells, a senior diplomat says that the US stands with India and Bangladesh as they prepare for the cyclone. 7 were killed in Bangladesh as the cyclone hits the coasts around midnight. Reports of morning state that Super cyclone Amphan weakens to cyclonic storm centred over Bangladesh. Odisha’s Balasore returns to normal. Many people have stepped out to buy essentials. Fruits and vegetables vendors were seen on roads selling their products. In the afternoon, cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba reviews the situation in Odisha and West Bengal. Amit Shah assured all possible help to Odisha. Residents who were affected by the cyclone were shifted to shelter in WB. IMD Director- general says that there is an expected delay in Monsoon due to this cyclone. As of today evening, 72 people lost their lives due to cyclone. In evening reports also says that private aircraft, a hangar at Kolkata Airport were damaged.

The toll due to Cyclone Amphan reaches 15 in Bangladesh in the evening. NDRF chief, SN Pradhan says that normalcy will return in next 24 to 48 hours after the cyclone hit the state of Odisha.

According to today evening reports, Kolkata airport resumes operation after cyclone Amphan. West Bengal CM announces Rs 1000 crore fund for restoration work of areas hit by the cyclone. MHA team will visit WB and Odisha to assess the damage, says NDRFchief. PM Modi will also visit the states in the wake of cyclone Amphan

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