Cyclonic storm Yass is likely to make a landfall alongBengal-Odisha coastline on May 26 morning, as per IMD reports.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, in a high-level meeting, hasasked all the concerned departments to work round the clock and evacuate peoplefrom the possible path of the storm.
“The state has also set-up a control room to monitor thewhole situation”, she said.
"I have extensively reviewed the Disaster Managementpreparedness with regard to the impending Yaas cyclone with all senior officersof relevant Central and State agencies along with DMs & SPs. All officialshave been advised integrated command, advance planning and early evacuationfrom coastal & riverine areas to rescue shelters including cyclone &flood shelters, and to conduct relief and rehabilitation operations at theearliest," the chief minister said.
"Fishermen have been alerted to immediately return. 24x7control rooms have been set up (Ph No - 1070 & 033-22143526). All agencieshave been asked to spring into action. Relief materials have been dispatched& Quick Response Teams are mobilised. I request all to stay alert,"she added.
"We have received an alert from the weather office.The chief secretary held a meeting on Friday following which a meeting was heldat our department. We have taken some decisions today. Learning from lasttime's experience we have come up with a comprehensive plan this time at themicro level so as to ensure immediate repair and restoration work," saidpower minister Aroop Biswas.
Six districts that have been identified to be at highrisk of devastation by the cyclone are namely North and South 24 Parganas,Howrah, Hooghly and East and West Midnapore.
A control room has been set up in the power departmentthat will function 24x7 from May 25. The contact numbers for the control roomare 8900793503 and 8900793504. The minister along with additional chiefsecretary, MD of state power Distribution Corporation and chief engineerdistribution would be present at the control room on May 25 and 26 for closelymonitoring the situation.
The district administrations of South 24 Parganas andEast Midnapore are taking all possible measures to minimise damages caused bythe cyclonic storm Yass that is expected to reach North Bay of Bengal near WestBengal and adjoining North Odisha & Bangladesh Coasts on May 26.
"We have laid special emphasis upon the fact thatthe COVID hospitals or safe homes are not disturbed by any means due to thecyclone. Arrangements of generators, oxygen, medicines, Covid materials andambulances have been made," a senior district official said.
In the coastal areas like Digha, Mandarmani, Tajpur,Ramangar etc in East Midnapore, the district administration has taken measuresto shift residents of kaccha houses to cyclone centres or school buildings.
"Before onset of the Cyclone, all port vessels willbe taken inside the dock for shelter. No ships will be kept in river anchoragesor jetties," a senior SMP official said.