Cyclone Yaas Bhubaneswar: Severe cyclonic storm over next 12 hours - High state of readiness!

Cyclone Yaas is very likely to intensify further in a severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 years. HR Biswas, Director, IMD Bhubaneswar said "Cyclone Yaas now located around 520 km South-SouthEast of Paradip (in Odisha) is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours, and subsequent 24 hours, it will intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm."

"It will move North-NorthWest and will reach NorthWest of Odisha and West Bengal coast. Further, it will cross the coast between Paradip and Sagar Island around Balasore on May 26 around noon as a very severe cyclone storm," ANI quoted HR Biswas.

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As per a report by ANI, more than 800 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) personnel are in a high state of readiness for the cyclone Yaas.

"More than 800 #ODRAF personnel with Tower lights, Search lights, Gensets, JCBs, Hydra Cranes, inflatable boats, high end hydraulic tree cutters, gas cutters, plasma cutters, Sat phones and walkie talkie sets are in high state of readiness to tackle Cyclone #YAAS," Odisha police said in a tweet on Monday.

Considering the input given by the weather office, the state government is preparing for possible landfall of the cyclone in Odisha, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena told reporters, as per PTI.

It will move North-NorthWest and will reach NorthWest of Odisha and West Bengal coast. Further, it will cross the coast between Paradip and Sagar Island around Balasore on May 26 around noon as a very severe cyclone storm: HR Biswas, Director, IMD Bhubaneswar

— ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2021

"The process of evacuation has already begun in the state and would be completed by Tuesday afternoon. The government is determined to ensure zero casualty in the cyclone," he said.

Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jagastinghpur districts have been identified as high-risk zones along with Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts. Besides, the district authorities of Cuttack, Puri, Khura, Nayagarh and Dhenkanal have also been put on alert for any eventuality.

Jena said the state government has already deployed 22 teams of NDRF, 50 teams of ODRAF, 150 personnel of fire services and 35 tree-cutting teams in the vulnerable districts. The state has also sought 30 additional NDRF teams, he said.

As per the direction of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, five secretary-level senior IAS officers have been deployed in five highly vulnerable districts to supervise relief, rehabilitation and restoration work in the coastal area, he said.

All arrangements have been made to ensure that there is no disruption to manufacturing and transportation of medical oxygen to other states as well within the state, Jena said.

"There has been adequate buffer stock of medicine and oxygen in COVID hospitals and COVID Care Centres located in the cyclone-prone districts. The districts were also given standby power in case electric lines are snapped," he added.