Tropical cyclone
Yaas
is likely to intensify into a “very severe cyclonic storm” by Tuesday evening
and is likely to make landfall near Dhamra Port in Odisha’s Bhadrak district
early on Wednesday morning, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The
landfall will most likely be somewhere between Dhamra and Chandbali in the
district, PTI quoted Regional Meteorological Centre scientist Dr Umashankar Das
as saying.

Chandbali is
likely to witness the maximum damage from the storm, IMD Director General Dr
Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said, adding that the impact of the cyclone will be most severe
for six hours before and after the landfall.

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“Rain has
already started and will continue. Wind speeds in Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur
districts will reach around 80 kmph by midnight,” he said.

Meanwhile, 60
formations of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have been deployed
in vulnerable areas for post-cyclone rescue and recovery, ANI quoted Odisha ADG
(Law and Order) YK Jethwa as saying.

He said
that 55 platoons of the Odisha State Armed Police will assist the ODRAF, who have
been provided with “high-end” equipment.

Jethwa also
said that police have intensified evacuation drive in coastal regions of the
state, with at least 81,661 people having been shifted from vulnerable areas so
far. “The operation is being expedited and will be finished by the evening,” he
said.

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The evacuation
is being carried in view of the IMD warnings for tidal waves, expected to reach
2-4.5 metres during the landfall. Wind speeds are likely to reach 185 kmph over
northwest Bay of Bengal and along north Odisha and adjoining West Bengal coastal
regions.

Odisha
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has asked Minister of State for Home, DS Mishra
to go to Balasore to monitor the situation in the northern parts of the state.

The MeT
Department also warned of bending or uprooting of electric poles and disruption
of railway services due to snapping of power lines and signalling systems. The
South Eastern Railways has announced the cancellation of several passenger
special trains till Wednesday.