Cyclone Yaas Aftermath: Cyclonic Storm Batters Bengal, Odisha; Rescue, Restoration Work Underway

Cyclone Yaas has left a trail of destruction in Odisha & parts of the coastline in Bengal, where the cyclonic storm made landfall on May 26 morning. After hitting the shores, the cyclonic storm kept battering the eastern coast as cars, mud houses, trees were seen flying in various videos that surfaced throughout the day. In some places, main communication routes also got submerged underwater. Cyclone Yaas made its landfall in Odisha on May 26 noon & battered the coast with strong winds and heavy rainfall on the coastline of Odisha and West Bengal. It is very likely to move northwestwards across interior Odisha and weaken gradually. A total of 115 teams of NDRF, the highest ever number of teams for cyclones have been earmarked/deployed in five states & the UT as part of its preparation & response to the cyclone. While hundreds of stranded people were rescued from West Bengal, three persons were saved from drowning. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced 7 days of relief for all families of 128 marooned villages in the cyclone-affected districts. Cyclone Yaas, like Cyclone Tauktae, strikes as India battles a devastating second wave of Covid-19 cases.