As per reports, Hundreds of people were evacuated from the district’s coastal and low-lying areas and relocated to cyclone and flood centres for safety. Those who have taken refuge in these shelters recall how Amphan left a trail of destruction in south Bengal. The cyclonic storm claimed the lives of over 100 people.
The situation hasn’t changed much for the evacuees. They are still praying for the safety of their loved ones as another cyclone approaches, despite a raging pandemic and a statewide lockdown, and hoping that their homes are not damaged by the storm.
As Yaas approaches the coast, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been evacuating people on a war footing from coastal and low-lying areas. The media witnessed a team of 25 NDRF personnel relocating people to shelters in Duttapur Palli, near the Bengal-Odisha border.
Those who were evacuated, received drinking water and relief supplies from the local panchayat. The shelter’s basement has been converted into a cattle shelter. Meanwhile, workers in Tajpur, a coastal town about 18 kilometres away, are repairing and reinforcing an embankment that has been damaged by large waves. A coastal road that connects Tajpur and Shankarpur has been cut off.
