Bhubaneswar:
Over 60,000 people were evacuated by 1000 hours today from the vulnerable areas of coastal Odisha as severe cyclonic storm Yaas over Bay of Bengal further intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm and likely to move further close to Chandbali- Dhamra port.
Special Relief Commissioner P K Jena said the evacuation process is still going on in the most vulnerable five districts and some adjoining districts likely to be affected by cyclone Yaas.
The evacuation process, he said, received a good response and support from the people and would be completed by this evening.
He said based on IMD forecasts and some international satellite findings, the government has concentrated 40 kms areas around Dharma port and Bhitarkanika which has been described as a high-intensity zone for Cyclone Yaas.
He said by this evening the government will evacuate all people from the high-intensity zone mostly in Bhadrak and adjoining Balasore districts besides parts of Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts.
The people would also be evacuated along the sea coast where there would be a tidal wave surge of two meters to four meters due to the cyclone.
The SRC said already 6,900 shelter homes, including 860 permanent ones, have been kept ready to accommodate about 7.5 lakh people.
