AMPHAN intensifies as 'Super Cyclone'; Heavy to very heavy rainfall expected in Assam

Cyclone AMPHAN developed in the Northeastern part of the Indian Ocean, Bay Of Bengal, has intensified into ‘Super Cyclone’ this morning, according to the Indian Meteorological Department.

“The Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘AMPHAN’ (pronounced as UM-PUN) intensified into Super Cyclonic Storm at 1130 IST of today, the 18th May, 2020” IMD mentioned.

According to the latest bulletin of IMD, the ‘super cyclone’ will maintain its intensity till 19th May, 05:30 hrs after which it will weaken back to ‘Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm’, the predecessor of “Super Cyclone”.

The cyclone is estimated to cause landfall on 20th May as ‘Very Severe Cyclonic Storm’, thereafter weakening further. ”It is very likely to move northwards for some time and then north-northeastwards across northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal – Bangladesh coasts between Digha and Hatiya Islands during the afternoon/evening of 20th May, 2020, as a very severe cyclonic storm” the bulletin informed.

IMD has issued heavy to very heavy rainfall warning for some districts of West Bengal and Odisha whereas light to moderate rainfall at most places and heavy to very heavy falls at a few places over the western district of Assam and Meghalaya on 21st May. IMD has also warned for damages in few districts of West Bengal like South & North 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, Howrah and Hooghly.

In view of this emergent situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also called for a high-level meeting on Monday afternoon, to review the situation arising out of the cyclone. Prime Minister, who is the chairman of the NDMA, will chair the meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the National Disaster Management Authority at 4 pm today.