Cyclone Bulbul is wreaking havoc in the coastal areas of Odisha, with high-velocity winds uprooting trees and incessant rains throwing life off-track.?
While no casualty has been reported from anywhere so far, a large number of trees and electric poles were rooted out at several places in Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Bhadrak districts.
A pregnant woman from Rajkanika town of Kendrapada district was rescued and shifted to Rajkanika Community Health Centers (CHC) by the fire personnel.
Under the impact of 'Bulbul Cyclone,' the roads were blocked as numbers of trees were uprooted due to a strong storm and rainfall.
The fire personnel removed the fallen trees to clean the road and took the woman to the hospital, said a report by ANI.
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India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy to heavy falls that under the influence of cyclonic storm in few districts Balasore, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Bhadrak and isolated places over Howrah and Hooghly on Saturday.
Personnel of the Indian Coast Guard are in all readiness to confront any contingency in the wake of the very severe cyclonic storm, which is expected to make landfall between West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts by late Saturday evening or night.
An official of a MeT department said the storm will sustain wind speeds of 110-120 kmph, and gusting up to 135 kmph.?
Ships have been moved to safer locations at Paradip, Dhamra and Sagar Island coasts, Inspector General of Coast Guard, Rajan Bargotra, told PTI.
Deputy Inspector General S R Dash, who is Commander of Coast Guard, West Bengal, said three disaster management teams have been stationed at Haldia and two at Fraserganj in 24 Parganas district for timely action.
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"We are trying to achieve zero casaulty," Dash told PTI.
The storm is likely to damage crops, cause embankment erosion, damage to kutcha houses, power and communication lines and roads in parts of West Bengal.?
The authorities of two state governments are taking all measures to tackle any likelihood, even as the Centre assured them of all assistance.
Acting on the advice by weatherman, both states suspended fishing activities from Friday onwards over the West Bengal-Odisha coasts. The MeT department also advised West Bengal government to suspend ferry boat service on November 9 and 10 in Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, East and West Midnapore districts.
Sufficient relief materials, dry fruits, terpoline have been sent to different relief godowns situated in different parts of West Bengal.