Damages by the super cyclone Amphan have been minimized due to the accurate prediction by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), NDRF Chief SN Pradhan said on Thursday.
“IMD’s prediction regarding cyclone Amphan was accurate. All agencies working on the ground are grateful for it. Damages have been minimized due to the accurate prediction by the IMD,” Pradhan said during a press briefing.
India Meteorological Department’s prediction regarding cyclone #Amphan was accurate. All agencies working on the ground are grateful for it. Damages have been minimized due to the accurate prediction by the IMD: NDRF Chief SN Pradhan@NDRFHQ pic.twitter.com/7IpxfyQttc
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) May 21, 2020
While IMD Chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, who was also present in the briefing, said that the latest technology was used to monitor Cyclone Amphan.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that 72 people have died in the state in the aftermath of Cyclone Amphan — 15 of them are from Kolkata.
Key takeaways from the presser:
– Cyclone Amphan has entered Bangladesh, after making landfall in West Bengal on Wednesday: NDRF
– Soon after the cyclone hit, NDRF teams had fanned out and started work as per deployment in Odisha in the afternoon itself and by evening in West Bengal yesterday – DG
– Cabinet Secretary held another National Crisis Management Committee meeting on today to review the post-cyclone situation, attended by Chief Secretaries of West Bengal and Odisha along with other officials: NDRF Chief
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– The situation in Odisha under control. Normalcy will return in the next 24 to 48 hours there.
– Damage is estimated to be higher in West Bengal. The state has asked for four more teams of NDRF, to assist in restoration work. Immediately, Cabinet Secretary has decided to send four more teams, these teams are being airlifted, will reach the state today evening: NDRF Chief
– Teams deployed are operational, we will continue to provide services till states require services, expected to be required for a longer time in West Bengal: NDRF
– Around 5 lakh people evacuated in West Bengal have been told to remain in shelters; more than 2 lakh people in Odisha were evacuated since the situation is under control and weather has moderated in Odisha, some people have started returning to their homes: NDRF
– Working shoulder to shoulder with state governments to restore normalcy in Cyclone Amphan affected West Bengal and Odisha: NDRF Chief
– The restoration work high-risk activities and requires high skill levels, our trained personnel are continuing the work despite the challenges, we are committed to undertake the work, in coordination with states. We will provide all the needed assistance from the states: NDRF Chief
IMD
IMD Chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that the landfall process of Super Cyclone Amphan had started at 2.30 pm Wednesday. From 3-30 pm to 5-30 pm, it crossed the Sundarbans coast.
He further said that it has no adverse impact over West Bengal now. Very to very heavy rainfall is expected in Assam especially in the western part and in Meghalaya. Arunachal Pradesh will also receive some rainfall at isolated places