West Bengal CM Mamata assesses disaster management ahead of cyclone Yaas warning

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday held a high-level meeting with district magistrates, superintendents of police and the disaster management team to review the state’s preparedness for cyclone Yaas.

“I have extensively reviewed the disaster management preparedness with regards to the impending Yaas cyclone today afternoon with all senior officers of relevant central & state agencies along with DMs & SPs,” Banerjee tweeted after the meeting.

A three member-team led by chief secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay has been formed by the state government to monitor the ground situation in the districts. Banerjee will stay in the state secretariat from May 25 to 26.


A deep depression over East Central Bay, located around 590 km from Digha, is expected to intensify into a “very severe cyclonic storm” and will cross between Paradwip in Odisha and Sagar Island in West Bengal with wind speeds of 155-165 km per hour. “On 23 May evening, at around 11:30, the low pressure became deep depression. It is located 670 km from Digha and 590 km from Paradwip. The movement will be north and north westward, and tomorrow morning it will transform into a cyclone,” Sanjib Bandopadhyay, IMD director (east zone), said. “On 26 May evening, it will cross Paradwip and Sagar Island with a wind speed of 155-165 km per hour.”

According to Bandopadhyay, from May 26 evening till May 27, North and South 24 Parganas and East and West Midnapore districts will receive heavy to very heavy rainfall.