Picture : Twitter / ANI
According to latest media reports from news agencies coming in, it is said that cyclone Amphan an extremely severe cyclonic storm is likely to make landfall near Sunderbans between Wednesday afternoon and evening, the MeT department said. Amphan is likely to move north-northeastwards after landfall and pass close to Kolkata in its eastern side, causing extensive damage and flooding of low-lying areas in the city, the weather office said.
Further, ahead of the landfall , the signs of destruction that is on the way were seen as trees uprooted got uprooted in Paradip as wind speed touched 102 km/ph.
Odisha: Trees uprooted in Paradip as wind speed touches 102 km/ph. #CycloneAmphan is expected to make landfall today. pic.twitter.com/10Aq8Y19CE
— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2020
The system, which was moving in a northward direction at a speed of 20 km per hour, was situated 300 km southeast of Kolkata at 11 am on Wednesday, it said. It is likely to weaken and move through Nadia and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal as a cyclonic storm and then into Bangladesh as a deep depression on Thursday morning, the MeT department said.
The intensity near the centre of the storm was 170 to 180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph, it said. “The cyclone is very likely to move north-northeastwards and cross West Bengal-Bangladesh coast between Digha and Hatiya, close to Sunderbans between afternoon and evening on Wednesday with a wind speed of 155 to 165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph as a very severe cyclonic storm,” the weather office said.
The MeT department has issued an “orange message” for West Bengal, which warned of extensive damage in Kolkata, Hooghly, Howrah, South and North 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts. It advised that all establishments and markets remain closed in Kolkata and adjoining areas and movement of people be restricted on Wednesday.
Further, it also learnt that all operations at Kolkata Airport have been suspended till 5 am on Thursday in view of Cyclone Amphan.
“All operations have been suspended at Kolkata Airport till 5 am tomorrow including special flights, which were operational in view of the COVID-19 pandemic,” says airport director of West Bengal.
The Eastern Railway has cancelled the departure of Howrah-New Delhi AC Special Express for Wednesday.
The departure of 02301 Howrah-New Delhi AC Special Express on Wednesday and 02302 New Delhi-Howrah AC Special Express on May 21 would remain cancelled, the ER said.
