Amphan intensifies into super cyclone; PM Modi to review preparedness

Cyclone Amphan, Weather forecast Today Live Updates: Cyclone Amphan turned into a "super cyclonic storm" on Monday and is likely hit the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh on Wednesday, the Home Ministry has said. The storm turned 'extremely severe' over the Bay of Bengal at 2.30 am today, the Indian Meterological Department (IMD) had earlier said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a high-level meeting to review the preparedness at 4 pm today.

"It is very likely to move north-northeastwards and move fast across northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts between Digha and Hatiya Islands during 09:00-12:00 pm of 20th May, 2020, as a very severe cyclonic storm," the latest bulletin released by the weather body read.

In the wake of the storm, the Odisha government is considering evacuation of 11 lakh people in the vulnerable areas. The coastal areas of the state are likely to experience light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy falls at isolated places from Monday evening. The MeT department has issued an orange alert for West Bengal. As many as 17 teams of National Disaster Response Force have been deployed in the two states.

(Inputs and image from theindianexpress.com)