The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday that Cyclone Yaas, a low-pressure zone in the Bay of Bengal has deteriorated into a depression, has escalated into a very severe cyclonic storm and will hit the West Bengal and Odisha coasts on May 26.

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By Monday, the depression is forecast to escalate into a cyclonic storm ‘Yaas‘, according to IMD.

“It (the depression) is very likely to move north-northwestwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm by 24th May morning and further into a very severe cyclonic storm during the subsequent 24 hours. It would continue to move north-northwestwards, intensify further and reach Northwest Bay of Bengal near West Bengal and north Odisha coasts by 26th May morning,” the Cyclone Warning Division of the IMD said, as reported by PTI.

“It is very likely to cross north Odisha-West Bengal between the Paradip and Sagar islands by the evening of 26th May as a very severe cyclonic storm,” it added.

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The state administrations, as well as the central government, are planning for the cyclone, which will bring winds of 155-165 kmph with gusts up to 185 kmph.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a prompt evacuation of those engaged in offshore operations on Sunday as he presided over a high-level meeting to assess the state and central authorities’ readiness to cope with the aftermath of Cyclone Yaas.

According to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), he requested officials to work closely with states to ensure the secure evacuation of citizens from high-risk areas, and he emphasized the importance of keeping outages of the power supply and communication network to a minimum and restoring these ties quickly.

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He also directed officials to ensure that there is good cooperation and preparation within the states to make sure that the treatment of COVID-19 patients and the vaccination drives are not affected.