KOLKATA: Extremely severe cyclone Amphan, packing winds of up to 190 kmph, made landfall between Digha in West Bengal and Hatiya island in Bangladesh, leaving a trail of destruction in coastal Odisha and parts of Bengal. Two women were killed in the Howrah district and Minakhan area of the South 24 Parganas district in Bengal due to the uprooting of trees.

Earlier on Tuesday, NDRF chief SN Pradhan in a media briefing said that a total of 41 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in West Bengal and Odisha to deal with any emergency situation arising out of Super Cyclone Amphan. IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said since the super cyclone is gradually weakening, its impact is unlikely to be very severe on Odisha.

Heavy rains lashed Odisha and Bengal, with winds gusting up to 185 kmph uprooting trees and electric poles. At least 6.58 lakh people were evacuated in West Bengal and Odisha before the cyclone struck. NDRF chief S N Pradhan said 20 teams had already begun road clearing operations in Odisha, while the 19 units deployed in West Bengal were shifting people to safety.

Weather Forecast Today, Cyclone Amphan Live News Updates: South and North 24 Pargana districts will witness a lull as the eye of cyclone passes through, but heavy rains, strong winds will resume in the next 30 minutes, as the second arm of the cyclone hits the area.

Weather forecast Today (Wednesday), Cyclone Amphan Live Updates: Two women were reportedly killed in Howrah district and Minakhan area of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal due to uprooting of trees as Cyclone Amphan approached the coast at a wind speed of 130 km/hr. The First arm of Cyclone Amphan has touched land. The process which began at 2:30 pm will continue for four hours and will hit Kolkata, later in the evening, according to the Indian Meteorological Department. 

Addressing a press briefing, IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the eye of cyclone is expected to touch land anytime now.  “The intensity of the cyclone near its centre as the landfall process started was recorded at 160-170 kmph, gusting to 190 kmph,” it said. 

Heavy rain and gale wind have affected several districts in the Gangetic West Bengal since morning and the intensity of the downpour and wind increased gradually with every passing hour. The extremely severe cyclonic storm lay at 106 km south-southeast of Paradip, Odisha, 95 km south of Digha, West Bengal at 4:30 pm on Wednesday. Lakhs of people in West Bengal and Odisha have been evacuated from vulnerable areas and shifted to safer locations. 

Earlier on Tuesday, NDRF chief SN Pradhan in a media briefing said that a total of 41 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in West Bengal and Odisha to deal with any emergency situation arising out of Super Cyclone Amphan. IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said since the super cyclone is gradually weakening, its impact is unlikely to be very severe on Odisha.