Cyclone Amphan makes landfall in West Bengal, devastates coastal areas
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The cyclone crossed the Bangladesh coast around 5pm on Wednesday packing a wind speed of around 160 to 180kph rising to 200kph
As cyclone 'Amphan' made landfall on Wednesday evening, authorities raised the alert level to "great danger" for some districts in the country.
The cyclone uprooted electrical lines and devasted the coastal areas. The cyclone made landfall at 2:30pm between Digha in West Bengal and Hatiya island in Bangladesh. West Bengal officials said at least two people were killed due to the cyclone.
The cyclone crossed the Bangladesh coast around 5pm on Wednesday packing a wind speed of around 160 to 180kph rising to 200kph.
A Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRC) volunteer drowned on Wednesday when a boat capsized while evacuating villagers to safety.
Strong winds and rain also lashed Kolkata as the cyclone continued to its inward journey while the National Disaster Response Force said that 19 teams were deployed in coastal areas of West Bengal includig 39 self-contained rescue and relief teams in coastal areas of West Bengal and Odisha.
"Amphan crossed as a very severe cyclonic storm. While crossing its wind speed was 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph. Now it's located 35 km northeast of Sagar island in West Bengal, 70 km south of Kolkata and 95 km east-northeast of Digha," the IMD said.