West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh get ready for cyclone Yaas

Ensure power backup at all Covid-19 hospitals, laboratories, vaccine cold chains and oxygen generation plants located in West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, Union home minister Amit Shah told the states during a virtual meeting held on Monday to discuss the preparedness on cyclone Yaas. He directed the authorities to evacuate people on the high seas and shift them to cyclone shelters while observing Covid-19 protocols. The safety of shipping and fishing vessels, and ports and oil installations in the area likely to be affected was also discussed in the meeting.

Cyclone Yaas is expected to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar Island around Wednesday noon as a “very severe cyclonic storm”.

At a videoconference held with the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal and the lieutenant governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Shah said a 24x7 control room is functioning in the home ministry, which can be contacted any time for assistance. He advised them to plan for keeping a buffer stock of oxygen for two days and movement of oxygen tankers to allocated states so that in case of any disruption, the supply is not impacted.