Massive Evacuation In Four Districts As Cyclone Yaas Inches Towards Coast

Bhubaneswar: In view of the impending Cyclone Yaas, which is likely to make landfall tomorrow noon over northern Odisha Coast near Balasore, the district administrations of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur have started massive evacuation efforts in the low laying areas. In Kendrapada, authorities have already shifted the vulnerable to the Cyclone shelters in the low laying coastal areas of Rajanagar, Mahakalapada and Satabhaya, Pentha, Jambu etc., Special arrangements have been made for old age and pregnant women in the CHCs and PHCs. In Jagatsingpur, the district officials evacuated local people from low laying homes to temporary shelter homes. In Paradip the Port authorities have made arrangements to face any eventuality. More than 2000 people have been given shelter in cyclone shelters.

Pregnant women evacuated safely to CHCs and SDH before impending Cyclone. pic.twitter.com/tT9CnaPNTr

— Collector and District Magistrate Kendrapara🇮🇳 (@dmkendrapara) May 24, 2021

 

In Balasore and Bhadrak district officials have moved thousands of people from vulnerable areas to safer cyclone shelters abiding by Covid-19 guidelines. As the Cyclone is expected to cross the coast over Dhamara and Chandbali, rescue teams consisting of NDRF, ODRAF and Fire services are ready on the ground with all equipments.

According to the India Meteorological Department, Cyclone Yaas is expected to hit the coast between Dhamara and Chandipur by noon of Wednesday. While the Cyclone lay centered about 360 kilometers south-southeast of Paradip and 460 kilometers south-southeast of Balasore, heavy rains are pounding Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore and Bhadrak districts. Adjoining districts such as Jajpur, Mayurbhanj and Cuttack have also experienced rains in the last few hours due to the cyclonic storm. Maximum wind speed during the landfall is expected to be between 155 kilometers to 165 kilometers gusting upto 185 kilometers.