India & Bangladesh receive heavy rains, experts warns of super cyclone

India and Bangladesh experienced heavy rains and winds. A super cyclone is expected to make landfall.

A super cyclone Amphan is likely to hit the Bay of Bengal in India. India’s met department predicts that Amphan is expected to make landfall “between afternoon and evening”.

Schools and other buildings are being used as temporary shelters in India and Bangladesh. However, more shelters are needed to accommodate people while maintaining social distancing.

Police in West Bengal told the international news agency that people are afraid to go to the shelters as they are afraid of getting coronavirus.

Indian officials said that more than 20 relief teams have been sent and many more are on standby. India’s West Bengal state is likely to be badly affected by the cyclone.

Meteorologists say that Amphan is one of the biggest storms in a decade.

Bangladesh’s disaster management said that they aim to evacuate 2 million people, and extra shelters will be provided to maintain social distancing.

State officials are working to find shelters for evacuees. In Orissa, 250 of more than 800 shelters are being used as quarantine centers.

India’s meteorological department has issued a “yellow alert” for the region. Trains, which were scheduled to arrive between 18 and 20 May, have also been canceled in Orissa.