The impending cyclone Yaas would be more severe than last year’s Amphan, said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. CM Banerjee added that the impacts of the cyclone would persist for 72 hours. In a complaint directed towards the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who had conducted a virtual meeting with states, Ms Banerjee questioned as to why only Rs 400 crore of cyclone assistance fund was allocated to West Bengal, compared to Rs 600 crore allocated to Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

Taking a jibe chiding Amit Shah, Mamata Banerjee said, “Mr. Shah said the decision depended on Science. I understand the political science behind it, but do not know this science.”

Also Read: After Tauktae, now comes cyclone Yaas, heading towards east coast; landfall on May 26

Anticipating the impacts that are expected after the arrival of cyclone Yaas, Ms Banerjee said that it would impact 20 districts in the state. The state government has targeted an evacuation of around 10 lakh people from the areas which have a high-risk of devastation.

The chief minister said, “Cyclone Yaas’s impact is going to be much more than Amphan, according to the information we have received so far. This is going to affect at least 20 districts in West Bengal. The districts of Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur will be severely affected.”

A total of 51 disaster management teams are ready. Power backup facilities have been arranged at hospitals and vaccination centres. Ms. Banerjee also said that sufficient relief materials have been stocked up and 4,000 cyclone centres have been set up.

Also Read: Cyclone Yaas is likely to make landfall on May 26; NDRF personnel are on standby; 25 trains suspended by Eastern Railways

State agriculture department has announced a compensation package for farmers if their crops are damaged due to the cyclone. Farmers will receive a compensation of Rs 13,500/hectare if their crops are damaged on multi-crop plots.

For single-crop plot, the compensation has been fixed at Rs 6,800/ hectare and for betel leaf vine damage, the amount is 18,000/hectare.