New Delhi: With less than 24 hours to go before cyclone Amphan makes landfall somewhere between Digha in West Bengal and Hatiya Islands Bangladesh (as per IMD forecast), Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla spoke to more than a dozen MPs from Odisha and West Bengal, and urged them to ensure all possible help to people in coastal districts in view of the impending super cyclonic storm 'Amphan'.
"Spoke on phone to MPs of affected areas regarding Cyclone Amphan in the Bay of Bengal. Urged them to sensitize people in the areas likely to be affected and also, impressed upon them to monitor relief & rescue measures so that they timely reach to those affected," Birla said in a tweet.
The speaker also informed them about the arrangements being made by the agencies concerned for rescue work and safety of the people.
BJP resident J.P. Nadda held a meeting with key party functionaries of the two states as well as those from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu through video conference, asking them to make available BJP's cadre to the state government and local authorities in relief measures.
The BJP has asked the four state units to ensure the party cadre play a key role in the time of corona crisis.
"I appeal to all BJP cadres to help evacuate as many individuals as possible so that the effect of the cyclone is minimized," said Nadda in a statement on Tuesday.
Nadda also cited the number of NDRF teams on the ground and the help the centre is extending to respective state governments.
The meeting was attended by BJP's state residents, state general secretaries and state general secretaries (organization) of all the four states.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday also urged Congress workers in West Bengal and Odisha to warn people of the impending super cyclonic storm 'Amphan' and help them move to safer places.
"Cyclone Amphan is coming to the country amid the Corona crisis. I appeal to all Congress workers of West Bengal and Odisha to warn people of the impending danger and help take people to safer places. You should all be safe," he said in a tweet in Hindi.
Till latest reports came in the severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal was hurtling towards the Indian shores in north Odisha - West Bengal and Bangladesh coast where lakhs of people have been evacuated from vulnerable areas, officials said.
This is the second super cyclone over the Bay of Bengal in two decades.
It is expected to make landfall on the West Bengal coast on Wednesday afternoon between Digha in West Bengal and Hatiya island in Bangladesh.
IMD Chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra warned on Tuesday that the Super Cyclone will hit West Bengal around the afternoon tomorrow with a "devastating wind speed" that is likely to cause "widespread damage". He added that it is the sharpest and most powerful cyclone in the Bay of Bengal area since 1999.
(With Agency Inputs)
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