The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued a fresh alert for West Bengal and Odisha coasts, warning Cyclone Amphan is likely to move towards West Bengal as an extremely severe cyclonic storm tomorrow.
The extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Amphan' on Monday turned into a super cyclonic storm, only the second over the Bay of Bengal in two decades, reports The Economic Times.
In a statement, the India Meteorological Department said the super cyclonic storm Amphan over Westcentral and adjoining Eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved nearly north-northeastwards with a speed of 14 kmph during the past six hours.
Located about 850 kms away from Digha, the cyclone's landfall is expected between Digha and Bangladesh on the morning of May 20. Moving over the Bay of Bengal, this cyclone is expected to grow stronger in speed and force.
The super cyclone is now being continuously tracked by the Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) at Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that Amphan was expected to make the biggest impact in South and North 24 Parganas and East Medinipur districts of West Bengal.
The IMD has advised a complete shutdown of shipping and boating activities in vulnerable parts of West Bengal and Odisha till May 20. Rerouting or shutting down of rail and road traffic has also been advised in the areas which the super cyclone is expected to hit.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed 37 teams in the coastal areas, as the states begin evacuating people from vulnerable areas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and top government officials, as the impending super cyclone compounded worries at a time when it is grappling with mounting coronavirus cases and casualties.