Cyclone Yaas likely to make landfall near Dhamra: IMD

Bhubaneswar: Cyclonic Storm Yaas over Bay of Bengal is likely to make landfall close to north of Dhamra and south of Balasore during noon of May 26, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.

 “It is very likely to move north-northwestwards, intensify further into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours. It would continue to move north-northwestwards, intensify further and reach Northwest Bay of Bengal near north Odisha and West Bengal coasts very close to Chandbali-Dhamra port by the early morning of Wednesday, the 26th May,” said the IMD bulletin.

“It is very likely to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar Island close to north of Dhamra and south of Balasore, during noon of Wednesday, the 26th May as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm,” the bulletin said.

Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting 70 kmph is prevailing over North Bay of Bengal and along and off Odisha–West Bengal coasts.

It would further increase becoming gale wind speed 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph over northwest Bay of Bengal and along & off north Odisha and adjoining West Bengal coasts including Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, from early morning of 26th May and will extend to Balasore districts of Odisha from the forenoon of 26th May, 100-120 kmph gusting to 145 kmph over Mayurbhanj district from early hours of 26th May.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday directed the Minister of State for Home Dibyashankar Mishra to reach Balasore and camp there to monitor the situation.