Cyclone Yaas: Landfall Between Odisha’s Basudevpur & Bahanga Early Tomorrow, Says SRC

Bhubaneswar: The severe cyclonic storm Yaas is moving at a speed of around 15 kmph and now lies about 200 km off Paradip coast. It is likely to make landfall between Basudevpur in Bhadrak district and Bahanaga in Balasore district on Wednesday, informed Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Kumar Jena on Tuesday evening.

The SRC said the landfall process will begin at 4 am and continue for four hours till 8 am and all 77 blocks have been kept under high-impact zone category.

Wind speed during the landfall will be around 140-155 kmph, gusting to 180 kmph, he added.

“We have fine-tuned our preparation actions accordingly. Response forces and restoration teams are on the ground,” he said.

He said that 52 teams of NDRF, 60 teams of ODRAF, 206 Fire Service teams and 86 wood cutting teams of Forest and Environment Department have been pre-positioned in 10 coastal and adjoining districts for search and rescue and road clearance.

“Evacuation is going on in full swing. Over 2.5 lakh have already been evacuated from low-lying and vulnerable areas to safer place. The process will be completed by tonight,” he said.

There 860 permanent shelters and 6200 temporary one identified where 7 to 8 lakh can be safely accommodated observing COVID protocol, he said.

Pregnant and expecting mothers in districts which are going to be affected by the cyclone are being shifted to Maa Gruha or Community Health Centres. The high-risk pregnant women are being shifted to nearest hospitals, he added.

The SRC urged youths not to put their lives at risk by taking selfie during the cyclone.

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