IMD wary of Cyclone Yaas
With the most of north India reeling under the effects of cyclone Taukate, another cyclone ‘Yaas’ is expected to hit the east coast on 26-27 May. The India Meteorological Department gave this information on Wednesday. The department said that a low-pressure area is likely to form over North Andaman Sea and East Central Bay of Bengal on 22 May, which could turn into a cyclonic storm in the subsequent 72 hours. The cyclone warning division of the department said that it can move towards northwest and reach the coasts of West Bengal-Odisha by the evening of 26 May.
IMD said that West Bengal, Odisha, Assam and Meghalaya may receive light to moderate rainfall from May 25. The department said that after this the rain will intensify.
Ministry of Earth Sciences Secretary M Rajeevan said that cyclonic circulation is expected to form in the Bay of Bengal on 23 May. Rajeevan said, “There is a possibility of it turning into a cyclone and hitting the coast of West Bengal and Odisha.” He said that it would not be as severe as a ‘Taukate’ cyclone, which had taken the form of a very severe cyclonic storm.
Cyclones are often seen in the east and west coast in the months before monsoon in April-May. In May 2020, the cyclonic storm ‘Amphan’ hit the east coast while cyclonic storm ‘Nisarga’ struck the west coast.
Can be like amphon
According to Hindustan Times, the IMD official said that the storm Yaas may intensify like the storm that came last year. Sunita Devi, who keeps an eye on cyclones in IMD, said, ‘We cannot deny the intensity like Amphan. The good thing is that the present models are showing that the system is moving very fast over the ocean. Its intensity will be reduced as it spends less time over the sea.’
Authorities in Odisha have started preparations for the cyclone. Odisha’s Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep K. Jena On Wednesday, held a preparedness meeting with the collectors of 10 coastal districts along with the SP, fire department officials and emergency officials. He directed the district officials to identify relief shelters, check facilities and infrastructure and deploy staff and prepare evacuation plans.
Jena said after the meeting, ‘There has been no confirmation that the cyclone will hit Odisha coast. We have received some preliminary reports from IMD which predicted a possible cyclonic storm off the Odisha-West Bengal coast on 26 May.’
