Cyclone 'Amphan' intensifies into super cyclonic storm

Cyclonic Amphan has intensified into a super cyclonic storm. 

The Super Cyclonic Storm ‘AMPHAN’ over west-central and adjoining central parts of South Bay of Bengal moved nearly northwards with a speed of seven kilometres per hour during past six hours. 

It lay centred over west-central and adjoining central parts of South Bay of Bengal this afternoon.  It is very likely to move nearly northwards for some more time and then north-northeastwards across northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts during the evening of 20th of May as an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm. It is expected to have maximum sustained wind speed of 165 to 175 kilometres per hour gusting to 185 kmph 

Director General of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) SN Pradhan has said that cyclone Amphan has now converted into a super cyclone. Addressing media in New Delhi, Mr Pradhan said, generally the speed of the super cyclone is 250 kilometre per hour. He infomed that the super cyclone will make landfall between Digha of West Bengal and Hatia Island of Bangladesh tomorrow morning or by noon.

He said, the conversion of Amphan into a super cyclone is significant because this is only the second super cyclone to arrive in Bay of



Bengal after 1999 Odisha cyclone. He said, the wind speed of this cyclone matches that of the 1999 cyclone. Mr Pradhan said, in Odisha, it will pass through the coastal areas of North - Eastern parts  of State and Bhadrak and Balasore are expected to be most affected by Amphan. He said, the wind speed at landfall will be between 195  to 200 kolometer per hour. 

The NDRF DG informed that in West Bengal, 19 NDRF teams have been deployed and four teams are on Stand by while in Odisha, 13 NDRF teams are being deployed while 17 are on Stand by. He said, these teams are helping in awareness drive, sensitization and evacuation. 

The NDRF DG, said, Central  Government considers the conversion of Amphan into super cyclone as a rapid transformation. He said, the government has taken the transformation very seriously. He said, the seriousness of Amphan has been conveyed to states as well and it is expected that states too are making preparations, including evacuation and protection of life and property.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) DG, M Mohapatra said, Cyclone Amphan is expected to make the biggest impact in South and North 24 Parganas and East Medinapur district of West Bengal.