(Juhi Aishwary, Journalist): A portion of Kolkata airport has been submerged due to heavy rains on Wednesday due to cyclone amphan in the Bay of Bengal. Significantly, in Odisha and West Bengal, the Amphon has caused heavy destruction. It has killed 12 people in Bengal. In many places, trees were uprooted, and in some places due to heavy rains, waterlogging was also done. Cyclone Amphon reached the coast between Digha in West Bengal and Hatia Island in Bangladesh at around 2.30 pm on Wednesday. During this time, the winds were blowing at a speed of 190 km/ph. The cyclone caused massive havoc in the coastal areas, uprooted trees, and electric poles in large numbers, ravaged houses were also severely damaged.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said that the impact of the storm was worse than the coronavirus. Mamta has been monitoring the situation in Nabanna, the state secretariat since Tuesday night. He said that due to this devastating storm, there has been a lot of destruction in South Bengal.
Task force meeting today
The meeting of the Task Force on Emphon has been called at three o’clock on Thursday afternoon. In this meeting, there will be a discussion about the loss and immediate relief and to take the necessary steps to establish contact. Mamta said that from the information received, it seems that the storm has caused more than one lakh crores damage. The first priority of the government will be to transport essential commodities from drinking water to contact areas. He said that the government had already evacuated five lakh people to a safe place. Due to which the loss of life has been controlled to a great extent. It has been said that a record 180 mm of rain has been recorded in Kolkata in three hours and many areas of the metropolis and districts have been submerged.
Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba reviewed the situation in the cyclone-affected areas
Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba today reviewed the situation in the cyclone-affected areas of Odisha and West Bengal along with the respective states and central agencies.
West Bengal has more losses than Odisha
The head of the National Disaster Management Force (NDRF) SN Pradhan said that there has been a landfall in West Bengal, where there is more damage than in Odisha. The landfall took place in South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore. The paths are being cleared by cutting down previously fallen trees so that traffic can begin.
Venkaiah Naidu expressed grief
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday expressed grief over the loss of life and property caused by the cyclone Amphan and commended the West Bengal and Odisha authorities for the timely evacuation of people. ‘
Weakened Amphan
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Amphon, which rose in the Bay of Bengal, moving north-northeast at a speed of 27 km per hour in the last six hours. The Amphan has weakened from an extremely severe cyclonic storm to a cyclonic storm and is centered 270 km north-northeast of Kolkata. It will weaken further in the next three hours.
Heavy rain warning for Assam and Meghalaya
The Meteorological Department has also issued heavy rain warnings for Assam and Meghalaya. It states that on May 21, the western districts of Assam and Meghalaya may receive heavy rains. Light to moderate rain will occur at most places. During the next 12 hours, strong winds are expected at Meghalaya and West Assam at speeds ranging from 30 – 40 km/ph to 50 km/ph.
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