Amphan cyclone: Assam govt asks DCs to ensure preventive and response systems are on high alert

As cyclone “Amphan” hurtled towards the coast, heavy downpour coupled with high velocity winds pounded coastal areas of Odisha and West Bengal, uprooting trees and flattening fragile structures. The cyclone is expected to cause landfall between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) close to Sunderbans during evening hours of Wednesday, with a maximum sustained wind speed of 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph.

Meanwhile Assam government has asked all its Deputy Commissioners to ensure both “preventive and response” systems are put on high alert to avoid any loss of life and property.

Accordingly Cachar District Administration has put its disaster management machineries to high alert.” With reference to the subject above, I would like to state that as per report of Meteorological Department, there is likelihood of strong affect of Cyclone “AMPHAN” in Assam. In this regard, you are requested to keep your field level functionaries on high alert to avoid any loss of life and property” an order of the administration stated.

Amphan is considered to be the second major cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal after the Super Cyclone of 1999 which had claimed around 10,000 lives and inflicted large scale devastation in Odisha.

The cyclone comes a year after Fani barreled through vast parts of Odisha on May 3, claiming at least 64 lives and destroying power, telecom and other vital infrastructure.