Odisha heaves a sigh of relief as Cyclone AMPHAN moves West Bengal

Bhubaneswar: People of coastal Odisha heaved a sigh of relief as the Super Cyclonic Storm AMPHAN moved to neighbouring West Bengal in the afternoon.

The hazard causing cyclone AMPHAN pronounced as UM-PUN crossed Dhamra and Chandipur coasts in Odisha in the afternoon and advanced towards West Bengal where the cyclonic storm will hit land between Digha and Hatiya Islands, close to Sunderbans, from 4.00 pm today.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Super Cyclone will make a landfall as an extremely severe cyclonic storm with a maximum wind speed upto 155-165 kmph gusting upto 185 kmph.

In Odisha, Dhamra recorded the highest wind speed of 120 km followed by Paradip (106 kmph). Besides, under influence of the cyclone, the gale wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting upto 75 kmph prevailed along and off south coastal Odisha.

Though the amount of damage caused by high-speed winds and heavy rainfall due to the cyclone is yet to be estimated in coastal and north coastal districts, the efforts are underway to restore the power in cyclone-hit areas.

As part of precautionary measure, the district administrations have evacuated over 1.45 lakh residents from low lying areas to several shelter houses.