The Indian Army’s Eastern Command is spearheading Army’s response for rescue and relief operations in West Bengal in preparations for Cyclone Yaas. The deployment of Army columns is based on requisition and is in close coordination with the West Bengal government. Cyclone Yaas intensified into a severe cyclonic storm on Tuesday evening. The cyclonic storm will make landfall on Wednesday afternoon in Odisha.
A total of seventeen integrated Cyclone Relief Columns, comprising specialised personnel with associated equipment and inflatable boats, have been deployed. Columns have been prepositioned at Purulia, Jhargram, Birbhum, Bardhaman, West Midnapur, Howrah, Hoogly, Nadia, 24 Parganas North and South. COVID-19 Surge in India: Indian Navy Sets Up COVID Care Centre at Vishakhapatnam’s Bheemunipatnam.
Nine Cyclone Relief columns have also been kept on standby at Kolkata, for redeployment as necessary in West Bengal, at short notice. These Teams are equipped to undertake rescue and relief operations to include casualty evacuation of stranded/ marooned persons, medical treatment, road clearing/ tree cutting and distribution of relief material, as would be required by the local district administration.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD). Cyclone Yaasis very likely to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar Island close to the north of Dhamra and south of Balasore on May 26. Meanwhile, over three lakh people have been evacuated from Cyclone Yaas vulnerable areas in Odisha.
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