From Bhupen Goswami
Guwahati: The Yas storm rising from the Bay of Bengal is moving rapidly towards India. The storm yas is coming after the storm to tau. IMD officials have warned that cyclone ‘Yas’ is likely to hit the northeastern states. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has alerted everyone. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Vishwa Sharma said, “The cyclone may affect the region on May 26-27. The Home Minister convened a meeting and took stock of the preparedness of Assam, Sikkim and Meghalaya. He said emergency services have been informed and activated. “I am grateful for the assistance from the Home Minister.”
The cyclone is likely to affect Assam, Meghalaya and Sikkim which may bring moderate to heavy rainfall on May 26 and 27. India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said the intensity of rain depends on the speed of the cyclone.Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted that “Cyclone ‘Yas’ is likely to affect the (Northeast) region on May 26-27. Hon’ble UhM Amit Shah called and inquired about the preparations for Assam, Sikkim and Meghalaya. Himanta added that “informed that emergency services have been put into action.”
In Tripura, IMD Director Dilip Saha said light to moderate rain is likely to occur in several states of north eastern region. Heavy rain may occur at some places in the region. However, the rain and wind speed of cyclone ”Yas” will depend on the strength and direction of the storm. Eight teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were taken to Odisha for search and rescue operations in Guwahati. NDRF 1st Battalion Commandant H.P.S. Kandari said the Odisha government had demanded more than 50 TEAMS of NDRF while the West Bengal government had requested 35 teams.Teams of NDRF battalions in Assam and Bihar are being airlifted to Odisha and West Bengal besides battalions deployed in these States. Teams with 200 personnel including engineers, paramedics, technical experts were flown from Guwahati to Bhubaneswar by an Indian Air Force aircraft. The teams are equipped with flood rescue boats, search for collapses and specialist rescue operations equipment.
