PM Modi to visit Odisha, West Bengal today to take stock of impact of Cyclone Yaas

The Prime Minister will visit Odisha and West Bengal today to take stock of the impact of Cyclone Yaas. Massive relief and rescue operations are underway in the devastated states of Odisha and West Bengal.

Prime Minister will also survey the affected areas of Balasore, Bhadrak and Purba Medinipur, apart from holding a review meeting in Bhubaneswar.

PM Modi will also take part in a review meeting at Kalaikunda in Paschim Medinipur district in West Bengal in which the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will also take part.

The West Bengal government has preliminarily estimated that the damage by the cyclone will be around Rs. 15,000 crore.

The Central government has already announced a relief of more than Rs. 400 crore. Besides, on behalf of the state government, the Chief Minister said that another Rs. 1,000 crore would be allocated for relief and compensation.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik conducted an aerial survey of the cyclone affected areas in the state on Thursday.

While restoration work in all cyclone affected districts is in progress, there are reports of a couple of rivers in North Odisha districts swelling due to excess water intake.

According to the reports, briefing media in Bhubaneswar, Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Jena said that the state government has ed the collectors of north Odisha districts like Jajpur and Kendrapada to stay prepared to ensure the safety of the people.

He said, as many as 146 blocks of the state have received heavy to very heavy rain fall including 77 blocks recording as high as 30 to 40 centimetre rainfall during the last two days.

Meanwhile, amid cyclonic devastation in the form of waterlogged villages, News of the safe delivery of around 750 babies in hospitals during the cyclone, has come as a breath of fresh air- thanks to the pre-cyclone shifting of more than two thousand expectant mothers to nearby hospitals.

Meanwhile, Cyclone Yaas has been progressing northwards towards the neighbouring state of Bihar.

It has further weakened after entering the plains of Jharkhand and Bihar and is currently at a speed of 8-9 km per hour.

Although the cyclone is no longer a severe storm and has gradually weakened into a depression, all districts of Jharkhand have been affected and are witnessing intermittent rainfall due to the cyclonic effect.

According to reports, squally and gusty winds at a speed of 10-20 km per hour can be felt in the south-western parts of the state leaving an impact of the Cyclone in Jharkhand.

Water level in Kharkhai river is still crossing above the danger mark, and Rajnagar block in Saraikela Kharsawan district has been totally cut-off from the rest of the district.

Weather department has issued Orange and Yellow s for north western and central parts of Jharkhand.

East Singhbhum district administration has been continuously giving s to people living near the bottom of river banks to immediately shift to district administration’s shelter camp.

The weakened cyclone Yass has formed into a low pressure area in Bihar.

The Met Department said, it will enter eastern Uttar Pradesh tomorrow through Kaimur and Rohtash districts of Bihar.

The state is witnessing heavy to moderate rainfall in several districts including Kaimur, Rohtas, Gaya and Patna.

Widespread rainfall and thunderstorm are likely to occur in Bihar till Saturday.

Majority of the districts in Eastern Uttar Pradesh witnessed mild to moderate rainfall on Thursday.

In its latest forecast, IMD has said, heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds will occur in the next 48 hours in eastern and north-eastern parts of the state.

Eighteen districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh are put on .