Cyclone Yaas: Landfall to continue over next 2 hours

​​​​​​NEW DELHI: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said ‘Very Severe Cyclonic Storm’ Yaas has made landfall close to the north of Dhamra port and south of Balasore district in Odisha at 9 am on Wednesday.

As the storm is relatively a large-sized system, the landfall can take several hours to complete. Wind speeds ranging between 140 and 155 kms are being reported from the coastal districts.

The Met department has predicted very heavy rain (more than 200 mm) over Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Keojhargharh and heavy showers over Puri, Khurda, Angul, Deogarh, Sundergarh districts of Odisha on Wednesday.

The storm lay centred over northwest Bay of Bengal at 7:30 am on Wednesday, about 45 km east-northeast of Dhamra in Odisha, 70 km south-southwest of Digha in West Bengal and 50 km south-southeast of Balasore in Odisha, said IMD.

As Yaas neared landfall, the sea turned rough at Purba Medinipur district this morning. Dhamra in Odisha received heavy showers coupled with strong winds under the influence of the approaching cyclone.

The Airports Authority of India said on Tuesday Bhubaneswar airport will remain shut till 5 am on Thursday. Flight operations at Kolkata airport will be suspended from 8:30 am to 7:45 pm on Wednesday.

An official said over 3 lakh people have been evacuated from low-lying areas in Odisha. Cyclone Yaas has already caused two deaths and damage to homes as severe weather and rains affect Odisha and West Bengal.