Kolkata, May 19: The severe cyclonic storm โAmphanโ is slowly taking dangerous forms. The cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal can affect not only West Bengal and Odisha but also Bihar and Jharkhand.
S Bannerjee, vice-president of the regional headquarter of the Meteorological Department in Alipur, told that there is a possibility of storm hitting the coast of West Bengal on the evening of May 20. After this, a strong thunderstorm can also occur in the border of Bihar and Jharkhand during 24 hours. There, too, the wind will move at a speed of about 60 to 65 kilometers per hour. Apart from this, rain may also occur in most areas.
Eastern Regional Director of Meteorological Department Ganesh Kumar Das said that at 8:30 am on Tuesday, cyclonic storm has reached 630 km southwest of Digha beach under Medinipur district in West Bengal. It is moving towards West Bengal at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour and its speed increasing due to which it can hit the beach of Digha by Wednesday afternoon or evening.
GK Das said that after the cyclone hit the beach, its speed would be 155 to 165 kmph. But after coming to the ground, its speed can increase up to 150 km. There is a possibility of loss of life and property. Kutcha houses will be massively damaged. Power-telephone poles etc. can be uprooted. People should not leave their houses without reason. It is advised to keep indoors and windows completely closed.
According to the Meteorological Department, the state government, along with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), has evacuated millions of people living on the shores to safer places. The storm is being tracked by the meteorological radar at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. An alert has been issued for West Bengal and Odisha.
The Meteorological Department has also informed that before the cyclone enters West Bengal, there will be rain over a wide area of โโthe state. Winds can run at speeds of 55 to 60 kilometres per hour. The impact of this cyclone will be basically in East Medinipur district.
Apart from this, it will also be affected in North and South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly districts. Here too winds can be at a speed of at least 100 kilometres per hour.
