Cyclone Yaas to Cause "Very Severe Cyclonic Storms" in the Next 12 Hours

It went on to say that the greatest sustained wind speed around the system centre is 55 mph peaking up to 65 knot the next 12 hours, the cyclonic storm Yaas is expected to intensify into a "very severe cyclonic storm," according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The severe cyclonic storm Yaas over east-central Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards with a speed of about 9 kmph during past six hours and lay centred at 9 UTC of May 24 over east-central Bay of Bengal," said the IMD said in a statement. 

Cyclone Yaas is also expected to cross the north Odisha-West Bengal coastline between Paradip and Sagar Island in Balasore during the afternoon of May 26 as a 'Very Severe Cyclonic Storm,' according to the forecast service.

It went on to say that the greatest sustained wind speed around the system centre is 55 mph peaking up to 65 knots.

On Tuesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged party members to help in every way they can to ensure the safety of those who may be affected by Cyclone Yaas.

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, has urged all responsible officials to take all necessary precautions in the wake of the Yaas Cyclonic Storm.

Residents in Jagatsinghpur district were evacuated from their homes and taken to shelter homes ahead of the impending very strong cyclonic storm Yaas, which is projected to make landfall on the Odisha-West Bengal border on the country's eastern coast.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has asked the state's home minister to reach Balasore today and stay there to monitor the situation as cyclone Yaas is predicted to make landfall on the Balasore shore.

IMD Bhubaneswar issued a red alert for heavy rainfall warning issued for Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore for today and tomorrow. Orange alert- heavy to very heavy rainfall expected in Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khorda and Puri today. 

Tomorrow, wind speeds of 150-160 kmph with gusts of 180 kmph are forecast across Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore, with landfall predicted by noon. According to IMD Bhubaneswar, Odisha, "we have issued the highest risk warning for Dhamra and Paradip ports."

The Indian Navy said on Tuesday that it has increased rescue and relief activities in preparation for Cyclone Yaas, which is expected to make landfall on the eastern coast on May 26 and affect areas of Odisha and West Bengal.

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