Bengal - Odisha-bound 'Amphan' likely to slow down: Millions migrate

- Will hit West Bengal today

- Winds will blow at a speed of 12 to 15 kmph, warning of protection of orchards and green houses

(By delegate) New delhi date. 19 May 2020, Tuesday

Hurricane Amphan, which formed in the Bay of Bengal, has largely subsided today. Scientists from the India Meteorological Department said that Amphan has slowed down a lot today. As a result, its intensity has dropped from a super cyclone to an extremely severe cyclonic storm. However, we have also warned the states of West Bengal and Odisha to take necessary precautions.

Deputy Director General of Meteorological Department Dr. K.S. Hosalikkar told Gujarat Samachar that Amphan is currently moving in that direction through the northwestern part of the Bay of Bengal. The hurricane will pass over Digha and Hatia islands and close to the Sundarbans and hit West Bengal. However, Odisha will also be hit hard by the hurricane.

When the emphan hits the Bay of West Bengal during the evening period, the wind speed will be around 15 to 18 kmph (per hour). However, the wind speed is likely to increase to 150 kilometers (per hour). Even so, owning one is still beyond the reach of the average person. Earlier, strong winds of 60 to 7 kmph were expected.

Sources in the India Meteorological Department also said that such gusty winds could severely affect orchards, fruit trees and orchards, raw houses, etc. in Bangladesh, including West Bengal and Odisha. Both the states have also been given timely warning as 'Amphan' is likely to affect the coastal areas of the two states in particular. Millions were evacuated from both states. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said three lakh people from coastal areas had been shifted to safer places. According to the Odisha government, the process of relocating one lakh people living along the coast of Odisha has started.

31 disaster management teams are also ready for rescue operations in view of possible damage. Seven teams have been reserved.

Sources in the meteorological department also said that based on the images obtained from ISRO's Inset-3-D satellite, it was learned that the 'Emphan' super cyclone has slowed down to the category of extremely severe cyclone. In addition, the entire activity of 'Amphan' is also monitored by Doppler Weather Radar in Visakhapatnam.

Amphan will be in the category of 'Very Severe' on the evening of May 30, followed by 'Cyclone' on May 21 and then 'Depression'. After this stage its intensity will calm down completely.

Hurricanes becoming aggressive due to climate change

Hurricanes are being affected by climate change. Rising sea levels make hurricanes more aggressive. This reason was also seen during the cyclone that passed through the coast of Gujarat earlier. High temperatures increase both the size and aggression of raindrops, which can eventually lead to desolation on the ground. According to a picture released by NASA, the temperature in the ocean area where the storm originated was higher than the surrounding area on May 19. Over the past decade, more and more aggressive storms have been seen in oceans around the world, partly due to environmental degradation.

Super Cyclone: ​​Reached the fifth category in just 12 hours

Hurricanes that strike from the sea to land are divided into one to five categories. A hurricane that blows at a speed of more than one and a half hundred kilometers is called a super cyclone in the language of weather. This is going to be the third super cyclone in the last 20 years. Winds blowing at this speed can uproot houses, while heavy rains can cause waterlogging everywhere. Amphan's speed is so high that it has gone from Category 1 to Category 5 in just 12 hours. That means the hurricane is extremely aggressive. It is estimated that the maximum speed can reach three hundred kilometers per hour.