Kolkata, May 27, 2021 : Very Severe Cyclone Yaas with winds gusting up to 155 km per hour made its landfall between north of Dhamra and Bhanga coast in Odisha on May 26, 2021. The name has been given by Oman. ‘Yaas’ means “a Jasmine-like fragrance tree” in persian. Cyclone Yaas was the second cyclonic storm to hit India within a week after ‘Tauktae’. Strong winds and heavy tidal waves lashed several coastal towns and villages in Odisha and West Bengal.
How are cyclones formed?
Cyclones are formed over the oceanic water in the tropical region.In this region, the sunlight is highest which results in warming of land and water surface. Due to warming of the surface, the warm moist air over the ocean rises upwards following which cool air rushes in to fill the void, they too get warm and rise — the cycle continues.
But what creates the spin?
Wind always blows from high pressure to low pressure areas. High pressure areas are created in the cold region while low is created in the warm regions. Polar regions are high pressure areas as the amount of sunlight here is less than the tropical region. So, wind blows from polar regions to tropical regions.
What happens when a cyclone hits the land?
Cyclone dissipates when it hits the land as the warm water that rises and creates space for cool water is no longer available on land. Also, the moist air that rises up forms clouds leading to rains that accompany gusting winds during cyclones.
Cyclone Yaas inundated low-lying areas and uprooted trees, and claimed at least three lives — two in Odisha and one in West Bengal. Farmlands throughout Odisha, West Bengal, and some in Jharkhand were damaged by flooding. Railway and marine activities were halted due to Yaas.Hours before the landfall, in Digha, a coastal town of West Bengal, tall tidal waves breached embankments and flooded villages around a kilometre from the sea. Tajpur, Shankarpur and Mandarmani, all coastal towns were affected by the cyclone. Shops, huts, roads, resorts and hotels along the beach were damaged as the waves pounded them. Over 1,100 villages in West Bengal were submerged in floodwaters caused by storm surges, leaving an estimated 500,000 homeless. Cyclone Yaas ravaged West Bengal badly after cyclone Amphan which formed last year.
The cyclone has damaged more than 3 lakh houses and affected about 1 crore people. 15 lakh people from coastal areas have been evacuated”, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said. She also announced relief for affected people.In the state of Odisha, over 120 villages were flooded by the rains produced by Yaas. Three seaside villages in Balasore district — Banajoka, Charigochhia and Naupalagadi — were inundated. A flash flood was also reported in Basudevpur block of Bhadrak district, affecting 10 villages. People in the village dug up a road to divert seawater that had entered a residential area. Two victims were crushed under trees uprooted by the winds. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday evening reviewed the post-cyclone situation and announced ration and other supplies for the affected people.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met both Chief Ministers of Odisha and West Bengal and announced Rs. 1000 crore for Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand.
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