Bhubaneswar: Evacuation drive has been intensified in seven Odisha districts so far, in order to ensure ‘zero casualty’ as the very severe cyclonic storm approaches Odisha. So far 1,55,929 people living in low-lying areas of the seven districts have been shifted to cyclone shelters and safe homes. The districts where the evacuation has been done are, Balasore (46,828), Bhadrak (72,970), Kendrapara (18,391), Mayurbhanj (3,200), Puri (3,500), Jagatsinghpur (9,122) and Jajpur (1,118).
The evacuation process is expected to continue late into the night Tuesday and many more will be transferred to the cyclone shelters.
Also read: ‘Yaas’ updates: SRC briefs preparedness of Odisha govt ahead of expected landfall
Notably, the Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Yaas’ formed over east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal has been moving northwestwards with a speed of about 17kmph during the last six hours, a fresh bulletin issued by IMD regional centre stated.
The cyclone lay centred at 0830 hrs IST of Tuesday (May 25, 2021) over west-central and adjoining east-central and north Bay of Bengal near latitude 18.3°N and longitude 88.3°E, at about 280km south-southeast of Paradip, 380km south-southeast of Balasore in Odisha, 370km south-southeast of Digha in West Bengal and 370km south-southwest of Sagar Islands in West Bengal.
It is very likely to move north-northwestwards, intensify further into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) during the next 12 hours.
PNN