The paddy fields of Bengal are almost ready for harvesting. But, if things were allowed to unfold in their own rhythm, the harvesting would have started from next week. In fact, some restrictions were imposed on agricultural work in Bengal till 30th May to contain covid-19. But, from yesterday, the farmers of the southern part of Bengal have hit the fields for harvesting. For them, and for many others, lockdown norms have been relaxed. Similar relaxation has been announced in Odisha also. The reason: Cyclone Yaas.
According to met department report at 9 AM today, a deep depression over the east-central Bay of Bengal has intensified into Cyclonic Storm ‘Yaas’ and is hovering at a distance of about 600 km off Port Blair. It is to intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during the next 24 hours and then into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during the subsequent 24 hours. It is likely to have landfall between Sagar Island of Bengal and Paradeep of Odissa on Wednesday evening with a wind speed of 155km-165 km per hour.
Like during Super Cyclone Amphan that hit Odisha, Bengal and Bangladesh last May, this time too the Bengal coast is more likely to take the maximum hit. But the severity is expected to be less. However, Bengal has already brought in 48 teams of NDRF, eight columns of army and engineers of paramilitary forces to help the state government. Embankments of rivers like Matla and others are being reinforced from Saturday. Drones and helicopters are flying over the coast from Sunday to ensure everyone has been taken to safe places.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Odisha, the vaccination drive is being called off from today in the coastal areas. As par the information till this morning, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada districts are likely to face nature’s fury the most. Along with it, the government of Odisha has also issued warnings for Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Jajpur and Cuttack to brace up for receiving very heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds.
The Odisha government has also asked the collectors of coastal districts (Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada in particular) to ensure smooth treatment of Covid patients and uninterrupted power supply to Covid hospitals as the cyclone is likely to cause maximum damage in these four districts. Similar arrangements are being made for seven southern districts (East and West Medinipur, Jhargram, South and north 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly) and Kolkata. Taking lessons from Amphan days, the state government is putting in all stops to ensure uninterrupted electric supply this time.
(The author Diptendra Raychaudhuri is a senior journalist based in Kolkata. He has a wide range of experience in covering West Bengal politics and has authored several books)