Cyclone Amphan will turn into a “super cyclonic storm” and may hit West Bengal coast on Wednesday. It has intensified over the past few hours into an “extremely severe cyclonic storm”.
West Bengal and neighbour Odisha will be hit by Amphan and have already been alerted to take all the necessary precautions. In Bengal, the coast of East Midnapore – including Digha – is expected to be hit. Residents of these areas have been advised to not go near the sea. Due to the lockdown most activities are in any case closed. With tourism major hit, shops near the coast in Digha have already remained closed for weeks now. However, the administration is conducting public announcements to warn people about the impending cyclone and precautions to be taken.
Due to the cyclonic storm, there will be very heavy rainfall not just along the coast in West Bengal but also in some interiors, as well as in other states like Sikkim, Assam and Meghalaya.
The country already reeling under the impact of COVID-19, this is yet another challenge to save life and property along the coastal regions of these two states where thousands of poor are dependent on fishing and farming.
