Early reports from the landfall area describe conditions during the storm’s passage as severe with high winds causing numerous trees to fall and flooding from both storm surge and rainfall inundating several towns in Odisha and West Bengal

The effect… pic.twitter.com/aDRDP5vkcy

— CHINMAYA KUMAR NAYAK (@Er_MrNayak) May 26, 2021

Cyclone Yaas Update, পশ্চিম মেদিনীপুর জেলার ঘাটাল মহকুমার মনসুকা এলাকায় ভেঙে গেল বাঁশের সাঁকো#cycloneyaas #CycloneYaasUpdates #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/jW3CDxTeyx

— Asianetnews Bangla (@AsianetNewsBN) May 26, 2021

As of 19:00 IST, 4 people have been confirmed dead as a result of Yaas with 2 each in Odisha and West Bengal. Rescue and recovery operations are now underway in the affected coastal districts as current conditions have become conducive enough for such operations to be conducted “The teams are removing them from roads to keep communication lines clear and this process is still on. Rescuers are making all-out efforts to bring normalcy in the affected areas,” Said a spokesperson for India’s National Disaster Response Force.

#IndianArmy at rescue….
May they be successful may all be safe….#CycloneYass #Cyclone #WestBengal#Odisha pic.twitter.com/e7APOxVNzh

— Jaya (@jaya_basak) May 26, 2021

The Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik has announced seven days of relief efforts for families in the 128 marooned villages located in the districts that are most severely affected by Yaas, while the Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee will reportedly make an aerial survey of her state to make an early estimate of the total cost as an estimated 300,000 buildings are damaged with the overall number of people that are affected by Yaas’ passage being over 10 million.

Meanwhile in Bangladesh, 3 people were said to be injured as the outer bands of the storm lashed Armukhi village in Jhenaidah Sadar Upazila, 50 houses were also damaged in a two-kilometre area stretching from Kutipara to Pashchimpara.

As the storm weakens over the next 48 hours rainfall will still be a huge concern for the region as up to 4 inches (100 mm) of rainfall could still fall on the region as the storm slowly moves northward before dissipating, for that reason residents of the affected areas must remain aware of the latest developments regarding the storm so that no potential life-saving information will be missed.

Sources:

http://www.rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/uploads/archive/48/48_9c02c5_24.%20Hourly%20Bulletin%20261400%20UTC.pdf

https://www-aljazeera-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2021/5/26/cyclone-yaas-very-severe-storm-makes-landfall-on-indian-coast?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQHKAFQArABIA%3D%3D#aoh=16220369353414&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aljazeera.com%2Fnews%2F2021%2F5%2F26%2Fcyclone-yaas-very-severe-storm-makes-landfall-on-indian-coast

https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/rescue-clearing-operations-underway-cyclone-yaas-hit-odisha-west-bengal-ndrf-707211

https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/science/yaas-cyclone-yaas-live-updates-cyclone-yaas-landfall-live-may-26-odisha-paradip-balasore-landfall-live-puri-bhadrak-bhubaneswar-bengal-kolkata-digha-sagar-island-imd-cyclone-weather-live/2258708/

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2021/05/26/3-injured-50-houses-destroyed-in-storm-ahead-of-yaas

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The IMD has also issued several warnings for rainfall and winds for Odisha, West Bengal and Sikkim as can be seen below:

In Odisha, 60 teams of the state’s disaster response force have been deployed at the vulnerable places in the districts likely to be affected by the cyclone in conjunction with 18 teams of the central government’s National Disaster Response Force to conduct and ensure a smooth evacuation and mitigation operations across the state ahead of the cyclone’s arrival. Arrangements have also been made to ensure adequate alternative power sources are available to oxygen plants so that hospitals that handle covid-19 patients will still have enough oxygen supplies for the patients even during the cyclone’s passage.

In West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has held a meeting with district magistrates, superintendents of police and the disaster management team to review the state’s preparedness plans for the cyclone’s upcoming passage. She later said that the plans were extensively reviewed during the meeting with senior officials from both central and state agencies present, all the while the state relaxed its covid-19 lockdown protocols just today.

Meanwhile in Bangladesh, the country’s meteorological department has advised on the hoisting of distant warning signal No. 2 in Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra. While the 75,000 volunteers of the Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) of the Red Crescent Society of Bangladesh have been put on standby across the country’s coastal areas, despite the nation being forecasted to only receive moderate impacts from the storm cyclone shelters three times more than required are being prepared as a precautionary measure as well as keeping in mind the health guidelines of the coronavirus pandemic.

As times tick by it’s prudent to follow official instructions on preparation measures to ensure your own and your loved ones’ safety throughout the storm’s passage over the next few days. Although the potential for destructive winds remained the cyclone’s main threat will arise from the substantial amounts of rainfall that’ll fall on the region over the next few days with around 10 inches (250 mm) or even more to fall over the region, an amount that will almost certainly cause severe flooding and landslides across the affected region. Another concern will come from storm surge which is currently forecasted to go as high as 3,8 meters in areas close to where the storm could make its landfall.

Sources:

http://www.rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/uploads/archive/1/1_e0825c_7.%20National_Bulletin_20210524_0900UTC.pdf

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cyclone-yaas-live-updates-odisha-west-bengal-7327505/

https://www-newindianexpress-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2021/may/24/cyclone-yaas-odisha-government-deploys-60-odraf-teams-to-start-evacuation-soon-2306761.amp?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQHKAFQArABIA%3D%3D#aoh=16218578429760&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fstates%2Fodisha%2F2021%2Fmay%2F24%2Fcyclone-yaas-odisha-government-deploys-60-odraf-teams-to-start-evacuation-soon-2306761.html

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/05/24/yaas-is-now-a-cyclonic-storm

https://www.dtnext.in/News/World/2021/05/24092914/1296360/Bdesh-75K-volunteers-on-standby-to-tackle-possible-.vpf

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The IMD has also put in place several rainfall and wind warning for Odisha, West Bengal and Sikkim for the next few days as can be seen below:

The central Indian government in New Delhi has urged the state and local governments in Odisha and West Bengal to take the necessary step and precautions needed to prepare for the cyclone’s arrival which is currently forecasted to occur in about 2 and a half days at or near peak intensity and strength.

In Odisha, the state’s Energy Minister has directed officials to ensure power supply to hospitals especially oxygen plants throughout the cyclone’s passage, meanwhile the country’s Eastern Railway authorities have suspended 25 trains between May 24 and 29 because of the cyclone’s possible passage across the region between those dates included on the list is the special train number 02279 Pune-Howrah Express departing from Pune on 24th and 25th May and special train number 02280 Howrah-Pune Express departing from Howrah on 25th and 26th May with further info to be given as times goes on.

The Indian armed forces have stepped in to help with the preparations efforts with two columns of the Indian army to be stationed in Odisha and one in West Bengal along with its respective accompanying engineer task force, the  Indian Air Force (IAF) has airlifted 950 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel and 70 tonnes of load from Jamnagar, Varanasi, Patna and Arakonnam to Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Port Blair in 15 Transport Aircraft as well as putting 11 transport aircraft and 25 helicopters on standby to carry out humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations as part of preparations to deal with the arising situation at hand.

The storm’s biggest threat will come from the enormous amount of rainfall that’s to fall on Odisha and West Bengal over the next few days with over 300 mm of rainfall or even more to fall on the region over the next few days which could cause severe flooding and landslides across the entire region, it is then prudent to follow any instructions from officials to take any necessary step to prepare for the storm’s arrival.

Sources:

http://www.rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/uploads/archive/1/1_edf3b7_3.%20National_Bulletin_20210523_1800UTC.pdf

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/cyclone-yaas-live-tracking-updates-west-bengal-cyclone-may-intensify-to-super-cyclonic-storm-imd/liveblog/82873733.cms

https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/cyclone-yaas-odisha-energy-minister-directs-officials-to-ensure-power-supply-to-hospitals-oxygen-plants20210523215950/

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/west-bengal-announces-relaxations-in-lockdown-as-cyclone-yaas-looms-over-bay-of-bengal/760746

https://www.punekarnews.in/cyclone-yaas-this-train-between-pune-and-howrah-cancelled/

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As of 19:30 IST over 20 people have been confirmed dead as a direct result of Tauktae with over 100 still listed as missing, offshore the Indian navy and coast guard are working together to search and rescue anyone that has become stranded out at sea during the cyclone’s passage with 314 being rescued off of Mumbai and another 16 being rescued off of Veraval in Gujarat.

Throughout the past 24 hours, Gujarat’s Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has kept a watchful eye on the cyclone’s effects on his state spending most of that 24 hours at the State Emergency Operations Centre in Gandhinagar staying in contact with field officers in the affected districts. He told reporters that despite such an intense cyclone hitting Gujarat for the first time in over 2 decades, the state government has managed to prevent any major loss to the life or property after spending the days before the cyclone’s arrival taking every needed step to prepare for its impacts.

Despite that, there’s no denying that Gujarat has been hit hard by the storm’s passage over the last few days. Places like Ahmedabad have been lashed by strong gusts of winds and torrential rains throughout all of today.

This is something else indeed! Blind rain in #Ahmedabad with torrential winds.#CycloneTauktae #AhmedabadRain #Gujarat #GujaratRains@SkymetWeather @lovelyweather_ @WeAhmedabad @shubhamtorres09 pic.twitter.com/V7ArjkrtM4

— Bhavik Bamania (@bhavikbamania) May 18, 2021

In Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has stated that over the last 24 hours it received reports of 2,364 tree fall, 56 water-logging, 43 house or wall collapse, 39 short-circuit and two boat accidents. Their automatic weather station also recorded that over 12 inches (300 mm) of rainfall has fallen on some spots in the city.

Meanwhile, in Karachi, Pakistan the storm’s influence has brought a rather unexpected effect on the city’s residents as huge dust storms with strong gusts of winds lashed the city followed by light rain falling in some areas within the city.

https://twitter.com/Ketul8Parmar/status/1394632110082707466?s=19

Despite weakening further and further, it’s important to remember that Tauktae still poses a major flooding threat to the region as it slowly moves northeastward across Rajasthan to west Uttar Pradesh. Over 5 inches (125 mm) of rainfall could still fall on the region in the next few days more than enough to cause floods and landslides and thus it is prudent for everyone in the region to keep their guard up until the storm’s remnants dissipate completely early next week.

Sources:

http://www.rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/uploads/archive/1/1_637105_34.%20National%20Bulletin%2020210518_0900%20UTC.pdf

https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/cyclone-tauktae-live-updates-cyclone-in-maharashtra-goa-karnataka-mumbai-rains-weather-update-on-cyclone-highlights-121051701134_1.html

https://www.deccanherald.com/amp/national/west/cyclone-tauktae-16-people-stranded-on-2-vessels-rescued-by-coast-guard-in-gujarat-987266.html?__twitter_impression=true

https://zeenews.india.com/india/cyclone-tauktae-gujarat-cm-vijay-rupani-supervises-situation-from-emergency-operations-centre-2362817.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true

https://www.firstindia.co.in/news/india/cyclone-tauktae-impact-3-dead-10-injured-in-mumbai

https://www.dawn.com/news/1624342

https://www.livemint.com/news/india/cyclone-tauktae-live-updates-after-hitting-mumbai-battering-gujarat-extremely-severe-cyclonic-storm-weakens-11621294599125.html

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In Gujarat where the storm made landfall with 1-minute winds of  130 mph (210 kph) according to Force thirteen and 3-minute winds of  100 mph (160 kph) according to the India Meteorological Department, there are early reports of widespread devastation as the storm slowly moves inland weakening as it does so with a current estimate of 105 mph (170 kph) 1-minute sustained winds by Force Thirteen and 85 mph (140 kph) 3-minute sustained winds by the IMD which still puts it as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.

#CycloneTauktae huge damage expected pic.twitter.com/wR8PHcgN1T

— Chaitanya (@chaitanyaw) May 18, 2021

Elsewhere the cyclone has left a trail of destruction as it brushed past the coastal states of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra over the past few days with Mumbai being especially hit hard with record-breaking winds of 70 mph (114 kph) being recorded in the city as the cyclone brushed the city.

It’s worth noting that rainfall will still be a concern for the entire region as Tauktae slowly weakens. Over 10 inches (250 mm) of rainfall has fallen over the region with a further 10 inches (250 mm) possible as the storm slowly makes its way northward. Regardless of the storm’s current status, it is prudent to remain vigilant in the face of the storm and its effect as life-threatening conditions will persist over the region for the next few days.

Sources:

http://www.rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/uploads/archive/1/1_46e812_30.%20National%20Bulletin%2020210517_2100%20UTC.pdf

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/05/17/tauktau-cycone-india-gujarat/

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/cyclone-tauktae-live-updates-very-severe-cyclonic-storm-likely-to-intensify-further-warns-weather-office-2443064

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Cyclone Tauktae slightly weakened over the past hours as it approaches Gujarat and makes the strongest landfall in the state in 23 years. It currently has 1-min winds of 195 kph (120 mph) and a central pressure of 944 Mb. The Indian Meteorological Department has the storm at 3-min winds of 185 kph (115 mph) gusting to 205 kph. Tauktae likely to weaken as it approaches landfall in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district.

Heavy rains brought by Tauktae prompted IMD to hoist rainfall warnings over Konkan and adjoining Madhya Maharashtra, Gurirat, and Rajasthan. Storm surge warning of about 3-4 meters over districts of Amreli, Gir Somnath, Diu, and Bhavnagar; 2-3 meters over Braruch, and southern parts of Ahmedabad; 1-2 meters over Surat, Navsari, and Valsad; and 0.5-1 meter over the remaining coastal districts of Gujarat at the time of landfall.

Strong rain and wind, and high waves affected the Western States of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, with a similar situation expected in Gujarat as the Tauktae approach landfall. More than 150,000 people in low-lying areas in these states have already been moved to shelters. Rescue operation operated by Indian Navy as two barges with 410 people adrift Mumbai.

Trees and electric poles uprooted making land travel difficult. Winds of 114 kph were recorded around 2 pm local time in Mumbai, with a station in North Konkan recorded winds up to 100 kph. The weather station in Coloba recorded winds of 111 kph and 157 mm of rain in five hours.

Sources:
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/586949491039666207/843833681763237908/TAUKTAE_SITREP.png
https://mausam.imd.gov.in/imd_latest/contents/cyclone.php#.
https://www.ndtv.com/mumbai-news/cyclone-tauktae-barge-with-273-on-board-adrift-near-mumbai-as-cyclone-approaches-2443367
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cyclone-tauktae-live-updates-gujarat-kerala-diu-mumbai-rains-7316979/
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57139989

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In Goa where the storm has battered its coastal districts for the better part of 2 days, there are reports of widespread damage mostly in the form of homes losing their roofs from either the high winds or falling trees. The falling trees have also resulted in most of the state’s power and water supply being cut off due to them still running above ground despite calls for them to run underground already voiced by local community leaders for years.

Meanwhile, in Gujarat where the storm is forecasted to make landfall in less than 12 hours, the state government has stated that 100,000 people have been evacuated to safer temporary shelters from 655 vulnerable villages in 17 districts. The state government also stated that teams from various departments are now ready to tackle the cyclone’s effects including teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

The IMD is currently forecasting storm surge heights in areas close to where the storm will make its probable landfall could be as high as 4,6 meters and thus it is prudent for preparations to be completed as soon as possible since the winds and surge of Tauktae will be the highest the state of Gujarat has seen in 23 years.

Sources:

http://www.rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/uploads/archive/1/1_8c67f8_24.%20National%20Bulletin%2020210517_0300%20UTC.pdf

https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/cyclone-tauktae-fury-as-trees-smash-roofs-and-tanks-in-goa-23173631

https://www.oneindia.com/india/cyclone-tauktae-to-reach-gujarat-coast-tonight-over-1-lakh-people-shifted-3260243.html?story=2

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Over the past 24 hours, the situation on the Southwestern coast of India has continued to worsen as Tauktae continues to intensify just offshore. In Kerala, local authorities are trying their best to limit the cyclone’s effects with the opening of more relief camps, opening the gates of 11 dams, and evacuating more people from the low lying areas just a few of their efforts across the state.

Even then, the intensifying storm is starting to show its real destructive potential with many reports of damages being published over the course of today. The reports of scores of houses being damaged, trees being uprooted and power supply disruptions for hours are just a small fraction of what has filtered in from across the region over the past 24 hours. Nothing is spared, not even the state’s landmarks could withstand the cyclone’s power with the Valiyathura pier, one of the oldest piers in the state developing a crack in the strong winds which hit the shores.

Meanwhile in Gujarat, where Tauktae is forecasted to make landfall as a strong cyclone Chief Minister Vijay Rupani ensures that his state is taking the needed steps to prepare for the strong winds and high storm surge that the cyclone could bring.

“The state government has made full preparations and a control room has been set up. Administrations of the districts in Saurashtra and south Gujarat regions, which are likely to be affected by the cyclone, have been alerted. Teams of the NDRF are reaching the state, and they will be deployed,” Said Rupani to reporters in Banaskantha district.

In response to the ever-developing situation, the National Disaster Response Force has upped the number of teams allocated to managing the effects of Tauktae across the 6 affected states from 53 to 100. of the additional teams, 42 are being pre-deployed or stationed on the ground in the six affected states while the other 26 are being put on standby.

Regardless of the government’s efforts, it is important for everyone who lives in the potential impact zones of Tauktae to be aware of the storm’s progress and its possible dangers as this is a life-threatening situation that needs to be taken seriously.

Sources:

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/586949491039666207/843095034914930688/unknown.png?width=725&height=408

http://www.rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/uploads/archive/2/2_bc1d3b_6.%20RSMC%20TC%20ADVISORY-6%20BASED%20ON%200900%20UTC%20OF%2015.05.2021.pdf

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/cyclone-tauktae-more-relief-camps-opened-in-alappuzha/article34563906.ece

https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/cyclone-tauktae-intensifies-shutters-11-dams-opened-kerala-148891

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cyclone-tauktae-houses-damaged-cracks-develop-in-valiyathura-sea-bridge-as-rain-continues-to-batter-kerala-1802889-2021-05-15

https://www.livemint.com/news/india/gujarat-braces-for-cyclone-tauktae-as-damage-feared-in-some-regions-11621079564679.html

https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/cyclone-tauktae-ndrf-deploys-100-member-teams-to-6-states-including-kerala-karnataka-india-1.5666367

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