Cyclone Amphan Live: 2 dead as cyclone crosses near Sunderbans in West Bengal coast
Residents walk along a street to a shelter ahead of the expected landfall of cyclone Amphan in Digha, West Bengal Photograph: AFP
highlights
Heavy rains and winds lashed two eastern Indian states and parts of Bangladesh hours before a powerful cyclone made landfall on Wednesday, with rescue teams evacuating millions of villagers to higher ground in an operation complicated by the coronavirus pandemic.
May 20, 2020, 08:15 PM
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel have been clearing electricity wires between Digha in east Midnapore district and Odisha border after cyclone Amphan made landfall earlier today.
May 20, 2020, 06:31 PM
As cyclone Amphan began making landfall, West Bengal officials said two people died as it crossed the coast near the Sunderbans.
IMD officials said the cyclone will reach near Kolkata by Wednesday evening.
May 20, 2020, 05:09 PM
Bangladesh Red Crescent said one of its volunteer drowned when the boat capsized while evacuating villagers as cyclone Amphan barrelled towards the coast.
May 20, 2020, 04:59 PM
NDRF chief SN Pradhan said that all the teams are equipped with tree cutters/pole cutters for post landfall restoration, if need arises.
May 20, 2020, 04:57 PM
According to the IMD, Chandipur in Balasore district witnessed rainfall and strong winds. The landfall process of commenced since 2:30pm and will continue for about 4 hours.
May 20, 2020, 03:32 PM
The landfall process commenced since 2:30 PM, will continue for about 4 hours. The forward sector of the wall cloud region is entering into land in West Bengal: Director, IMD Bhubaneswar. (ANI)
May 20, 2020, 03:32 PM
A West Bengal-bound special train scheduled to depart from Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday was cancelled due to the forecast of cyclonic storm ‘Amphan’ making landfall there, a senior official said. (PTI)
May 20, 2020, 12:28 PM
Keeping in view the landfall of Cyclone Amphan, all the operations at the Kolkata Airport will be suspended till 5 am on Thursday, including special flights for the COVID-19 pandemic, news agency ANI reported, quoting the Airport Director for West Bengal.
May 20, 2020, 12:26 PM
We're looking at the time and possible speed of #Amphan's landing. As per IMD, the storm surge could be 4-6 meters of seawater which will enter the land area. NDRF teams are coordinating with local administration for storm surge response.41 teams are deployed in Odisha and West Bengal: NDRF Chief
May 20, 2020, 12:04 PM
Wind speed has picked up near coastal Odisha and is blowing at around 100 kmph at Paradip. The wind is not that strong in West Bengal. Odisha has evacuated nearly 1.5 lakh people from Balasore and Bhadrak, while West Bengal has evacuated over 3.3 lakh people: NDRF Chief SN Pradhan told news agency ANI
May 20, 2020, 12:02 PM
#CycloneAmphan | Stay Safe During #Cyclone
— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) May 20, 2020
Do's & Don'ts#WestBengal #Odisha #Paradip #Digha pic.twitter.com/JPchtUMZRk
May 20, 2020, 12:01 PM
#CycloneAmphanUpdate :: Latest Hourly Update
— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) May 20, 2020
Super #CycloneAmphan centered at 1030 HRS IST of today, 20 May as an EXTREMELY SEVERE CYCLONIC STORM about
- 120 KM East of #Paradip
- 150 KM South-Southeast of #Digha.
- 310 KM West-Southwest OF #Khepupara (#Bangladesh)@IMDWeather pic.twitter.com/9Suflswauu
May 20, 2020, 11:38 AM
Cyclone Amphan lies 177km south southeast of Digha. After landfall, it is likely to move north northeast close to Kolkata. At the time of crossing coast, wind speed to be around 155-165kmph. It is likely to retain intensity as cyclone till Mayb21 morning: Deputy Director, IMD Kolkata (ANI)
May 20, 2020, 11:37 AM
Eastern Naval Command is monitoring the developments in the Bay of Bengal closely and Naval Officers-in-Charge (West Bengal) and (Odisha) are in constant communication with respective State Administrations to augment rescue and relief operations as needed: Indian Navy (ANI)
May 20, 2020, 11:35 AM
Heavy to very heavy rainfall occurred at isolated places over north coastal districts of Odisha and heavy rainfall over coastal West Bengal during past 24 hours. Gale Wind, speed reaching 100-110 kmph gusting to 125 kmph, prevailed along & off north coastal Odisha districts. PIB report
May 20, 2020, 11:27 AM
#CycloneAmphanUpdate #CycloneAmphan is very likely to move north-northeastwards across northwest #BayOfBengal cross #WestBengal – #Bangladesh coasts between #Digha (WB) and #HatiyaIslands (Ban) close to #Sundarbans during Afternoon/Evening hours of today, 20th May@IMDWeather pic.twitter.com/h9AlQNQPi5
— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) May 20, 2020
May 20, 2020, 11:27 AM
#CycloneAmphanUpdate
— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) May 20, 2020
The Super #CycloneAmphan over Northwest #BayOfBengal moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 22 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centred at 0830 hrs IST of today, the 20th May, 2020 as an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm. @IMDWeather #Odisha #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/tyiXvQDznx
May 20, 2020, 11:26 AM
#AmphanUpdates
— PIB in Odisha #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIBBhubaneswar) May 20, 2020
Rain and Gusting Wind in #Balasore ,#Odisha due to the impact of #AmphanSuperCyclone @PIB_India@MIB_India@PIBHomeAffairs@Indiametdept @ndmaindia @NDRFHQ @IMDWeather @SRC_Odisha @DBalasore pic.twitter.com/sCZBAWSNZo
May 20, 2020, 11:25 AM
#CycloneAmphanUpdate #CycloneAmphan is to have maximum sustained wind speed of 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph. #Landfall process to commence from today afternoon. After landfall #Cyclone is likely to move northeastwards close to #Kolkata.@IMDWeather #WestBengal #Odisha pic.twitter.com/CDzuyGUAXj
— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) May 20, 2020
May 20, 2020, 11:24 AM
Plan during and after Cyclone Amphan strikes: Dos and Don'ts
If outdoors
Do not enter damaged buildings
Watch out for broken electrical poles and wires, and other sharp objects
If your house is unsafe, leave early before the onset of a cyclone
Seek a safer shelter as soon as possible
(Source: National Disaster Management Authority)
May 20, 2020, 11:23 AM
Plan during and after Cyclone Amphan strikes: Dos and Don'ts
If indoors
Switch off electrical mains, gas supply
Keep door and windows shut
If your house is unsafe, leave early before the onset of a cyclone
Listen to radio/transistor
Drink boiled/chlorinated water
Rely only on official warning
(Source: National Disaster Management Authority)