The cyclone Amphan makes landfall in West Bengal, it causes havoc

The cyclone Amphan: In Kolkata, the storm began with a wind speed of 69 km / h, but it got to the 105 km / h in around 5. 52 and thereafter increased its intensity (Express photo by Shantanu Chowdhury)

Extremely severe cyclone Amphan made landfall in the coastal areas of West Bengal in around 2. 30 pm Wednesday, leaving a trail of destruction behind. The cyclone hit the state at a time when he was already struggling to combat the Covid 19 of propagation.

According to the IMD, the very severe cyclonic storm Amphan crossed West Bengal and Bangladesh coast between Central (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) through Sunderbans (West Bengal) near latitude 21.65 N and longitude 88.3 E, between 3.30 pm and 5.30 pm with wind speeds of 155-165 km / h with gusts of up to 185 km / h.

In Kolkata, the storm began with a wind speed of 69 km / h, but it got to the 105 km / h in around 5. 52 and thereafter increased its intensity. The districts of East Midnapore, South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas were the most affected. These are the same areas that were affected by the cyclone Bulbul in November 2019.

Two women were killed in Howrah district and Minakhan area of South 24 Parganas district in Bengal due to the uprooting of trees. The official confirmation is expected.

From the morning, heavy rains and strong winds battered coastal towns of Central, Tajpur, Shankarpur, Mandarmani, Bakkhali, Kakdwip and Haldia.

A man covers himself with a plastic sheet and walks in the rain ahead of the Cyclone Amphan landing in Bhadrak district of Odisha. (AP)

As the cyclone intensified, the wind gathered speed uprooting trees and damaging electrical poles. A large number of mud houses in the coastal areas collapsed. A number of embankments have been breached in the coastal areas and reports of flooding in low-lying areas came from several areas in the South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas districts. The electricity was cut off in the coastal areas and the worst affected districts as a precautionary measure on the part of the authorities.

According to met officials, was going to take 5 to 6 hours for the cyclone to pass over Bengal and the rains are expected to continue until Friday. According to officials, the extent of the damage and loss of lives can not be established unless the storm ends.

The chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spent the day in a control room in the secretariat of state of the monitoring the cyclone situation. She held talks with the president of the board of managers in Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Firhad Hakim and took stock of the situation in the city. She is scheduled to spent the night in the control room. The Chief minister was seen talking to the district magistrates and police supers of various districts like Purba Medinipur, North and South 24 parafns and orders to be issued from time to time.

The state government had already moved more than 3 Lakh people homeless in various districts. However, the administration had to be the precautions because Covid 19 situation in Bengal (Express Photo)

Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre Alipore, sanjib Bandyopadhyay, said, “The process of landing began at 2.30 pm. It takes 3 to 4 hours to landfall. At 2.30 pm we recorded 130 to 170 km per hour winds in East Midnapore and South 24 parganas. In Alipore, a wind speed of 69 kms was recorded later increased to 105. This will only increase.”

In Kolkata, the trees were uprooted at more than thirty areas, including New Alipore, Central Avenue, SN Banerjee Road, Bidhan Sarani, Shakespeare Sarani, Ballygunge, Maidan, Hastings, Prince Anwar Shah Road, Gariahat, and other. In many places, the trees were uprooted with traffic signals. All the major roads were blocked. There were reports of flooding in some streets and the rain continued since morning.

By 1 pm the administration closed Howrah Bridge, Vivekananda respective eras (Second Hooghly Bridge) and all flights on Kolkata to traffic as a precautionary measure. A two-story house collapsed in Entally area.

The state government had already moved more than 3 Lakh people homeless in various districts. However, the administration had to be the precautions because Covid 19 situation in Bengal and made its best effort to maintain social distancing. NDRF and state disaster management teams of the EPI have been placed in the affected areas.

📣 The Indian Express is now in the Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay up to date with the latest news

For latest India News, download Indian Express of the Application.

© The Indian Express (P) Ltd