NDRF prepares for Cyclone Yaas, positions teams in West Bengal, Odisha

The National Disaster Response Force NDRF has begun positioning its teams in West Bengal and Odisha as Cyclone Yaas is likely to hit these states on the eastern coast of the country around May 2627 officials said on FridaySome of the teams dispatched to undertake evacuation rescue and restoration work in states affected by Cyclone Tauktae on the western coast are being called back they saidNDRF Director General S N Pradhan tweeted that the force has decided to airlift West Bengal and Odishabased teams of the force in view of Cyclone Yaas and its possible impact in the coastal districts of the two statesAlso Read Mumbai 51 dead 24 from barge P305 missing Navy continues searchThe exact number of NDRF teams to be earmarked for the latest cyclone will be decided as per inputs received from the India Meteorological Department The situation is developing the officials saidThe central force had earmarked a total of 101 teams for the extremely severe cyclonic storm Tauktae that developed in the Arabian Sea and mainly affected the coastal areas of Gujarat and states like Maharashtra and Goa apart from a few others on the western coastline of the countryTauktae made landfall on Monday night near Una town in Gir Somnath district of Gujarat and wreaked havoc for around 28 hours before it weakened into a depressionEach NDRF team has 47 personnel who are equipped with tree and pole cutters communication gadgets inflatable boats and basic medical aidDue to the Covid19 spread these teams have been provided orangecoloured fullbodied personal protection gear that includes a face shield for each rescuerThe NDRF had earlier said that most of its troops deployed for these operations have been vaccinated for coronavirusTalking about Yaas the IMD had on Thursday said that a low pressure area is very likely to form over north Andaman Sea and adjoining eastcentral Bay of Bengal around May 22It is very likely to intensify gradually into a cyclonic storm during the subsequent 72 hours It is very likely to move northwestwards and reach West BengalOdisha coasts around May 26 evening the Cyclone Warning Division of the IMD had saidThe name Yaas has been given to the potential cyclone by Oman as per a standard protocol of naming such cyclonic storms in rotation by affected countries in the same areaThe name Tauktae was given by Myanmar and it means gecko or a small lizardThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever