Updates: Odisha reports 3 deaths due to cyclone Amphan

The cyclone lay centred about 170 kilometres south from West Bengal's coastal town Digha as an extremely severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal and is likely to make a landfall near the Sunderbans this afternoon, The Meteorological Department said, reports PTI.

Bangladesh has shifted more than 2 million people to storm shelters and the country's military has been put on alert as Cyclone Amphan is set to make a landfall today. The Army, Navy and Air Force have made preparations to tackle the super cyclone which has moved within 400km of Bangladesh’s coast, reports PTI.

National Disaster Response Force Chief SN Pradhan said that the specialised force is looking at the time and possible speed of Cyclone Amphan's landing. He said that NDRF teams were coordinating with local administration for storm surge response and a total of 41 teams have been deployed in the states of Odisha and West Bengal, reports ANI.

We're looking at time & possible speed of #Amphan's landing. As per IMD, storm surge could be 4-6 meters of seawater which will enter land area.NDRF teams are coordinating with local administration for storm surge response.41 teams are deployed in Odisha&West Bengal:NDRF Chief https://t.co/jPPb0LU7x7

— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2020

The India Meteorological Department said that Cyclone Amphan is 120 kilometres away from Odisha's seaport city Paradip. The storm will make landfall this afternoon between West Bengal's Digha and Hatiya islands of Bangladesh close to Sunderbans.

Heavy rains and winds lashed Indian states of Odisha, West Bengal and parts of Bangladesh hours before a powerful cyclone made landfall today, with rescue teams evacuating millions of villagers to higher ground in an operation complicated by the coronavirus pandemic, reports Reuters.

The Indian Navy said that a total of 20 rescue teams with Gemini boats & medical teams have been kept ready for augmenting rescue & relief efforts in Odisha & West Bengal. INS Dega, Visakhapatnam & INS Rajali, Arakkonam are also on standby, reports ANI.

As cyclone "Amphan" hurtled towards the coast, heavy downpour coupled with high velocity winds pounded coastal Odisha, uprooting trees and flattening fragile structures, officials said on Wednesday, reports PTI.

The India Meteorological Department said that Cyclone Amphan will soon hit the coastal areas of West Bengal and Odisha along with Bangladesh. Both West Bengal and Odisha have received heavy rains.

The next six to eight hours are going to be crucial as Cyclone Amphan is likely to make landfall on Wednesday near Sunderbans in West Bengal, according to Special Relief Commissioner, Odisha, who added that upwards of 1.37 lakh people have been evacuated so far in the state, reports ANI.

In view of Cyclone Amphan which is set to become a very severe cyclonic storm soon, Kolkata Airport has suspended its operations including movement cargo and evacuation flights till 5 am tomorrow.