Highlights: Cyclone Amphan to make landfall on Bengal coast on May 20: Govt

Cyclone Amphan will make landfall on West Bengal coast on May 20 evening as extremely severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds up to 195 kmph, the govt has said.

PM Narendra Modi held a meeting with MHA and NDMA to review the situation arising out of Cyclone Amphan in different parts of the country.

Many parts of Kerala have experienced heavy rains since overnight due to the impact of super cyclone Amphan, officials said. Widespread damage was reported from Vaikom taluk in Kottayam district after strong winds accompanied by heavy rains lashed the coastal town since Sunday night, reports PTI.

The India Meteorological Department department said that Cyclone Amphan is has intensified into a super cyclone, and will cross West Bengal and Bangladesh coast on May 20, reports PTI.

The West Bengal government is taking necessary arrangements in view of Cyclone Amphan that is expected to make a landfall on Wednesday. Sources said that at least 7 NDRF teams have been deployed in six West Bengal districts including East Midnapore, West Midnapore, South 24-Parganas, North 24-Parganas, Hooghly and Howrah, reports IANS.

S N Pradhan, the Directorate General of the National Disaster Response Force said that a total of 37 teams of the federal contingency force have been deployed in the states of Odisha and West Bengal out of which 20 teams are actively deployed and 17 are on standby, reports PTI.

The Tamil Nadu government said that the state will not face the impact of cyclone 'Amphan' but it is constantly monitoring the situation along with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), reports PTI.

Officials said that thousands of Indians are being evacuated and port operations have been stopped amid the cyclone amphan which will turn into a severe cyclonic storm very soon. The states of Odisha and West Bengal have sent disaster management teams to moves families to protective shelters, Reuters reports.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting with officials of the ministry of home affairs (MHA) and National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) on Monday amid a warning that cyclonic storm ‘Amphan’ is likely to intensify into a super cyclone by Monday evening.

The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a warning of heavy rainfall for 6 states till May 21. IMD said that Odisha, West Bengal and its sub Himalayan parts, Sikkim, Assam and Meghalaya will receive heavy rainfall till May 21.