Betwixt corona pandemic, a new disaster “AMPHAN” has created his own way to disturb nature.

22 May 2020,Sajal Singh

While the world is dealing with the “CORONA PANDEMIC”, India has to deal with two disasters and both harmful to human existence.
Cyclone Amphan on Monday (May 18) morning intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal region and is rushing towards the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh.
It was very likely to move nearly northwards for some time and then north-northeastwards across northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal–Bangladesh coasts between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) during the Afternoon / Evening of 20th May 2020 as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph.

The NDRF teams had deployed several teams across Odisha and West Bengal region. The India Meteorological Department had also issued guidance on the kind of damage expected in states likely to be impacted by Cyclone Amphan.
IMD (India Meteorological Department) had issued heavy rainfall warning for Odisha, West Bengal, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, Assam and Meghalaya till May 21st in the light of extremely severe cyclonic storm Amphan
Now, the big thing is that till date (21\5\2020), Amphan had caused 10 deaths in West Bengal’s region Cyclone Amphan made landfall in coastal areas of West Bengal at around 2.30 pm on Wednesday, killing at least 10 people, and leaving a trail of destruction behind it.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that atleast 10 to 12 people have died and various districts of South Bengal has been devastated by the cyclone Amphan.
Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre Alipore, Sanjib Bandyopadhyay said, “The process of landfall started at 2.30 pm. It takes 3 to 4 hours for landfall. At 2.30 pm we recorded 130 to 170 km per hour winds on East Midnapore and South 24 parganas.

Districts like North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Kolkata, West Midnapore, East Midnapore, even Puruli Bankura has been affected by Amphan.

Mamta also mentioned that they are lucky that they have successfully moved 5 lakh people to shelters. Adding on she said Agriculture in the districts are affected, electricity supply is finished, houses destroyed, bridges and embankments destroyed. According to officials, it would take 5 to 6 hours for the cyclone to pass over Bengal and the rains are expected to continue till Friday. The extent of the damage and loss of lives cannot be confirmed unless the storm ends.
Talking of the precautions, government already moved 5 lakhs people from affected areas before the disaster. NDRF and state disaster management teams with PPE have been placed in affected areas.