A powerful cyclone made landfall in eastern India and Bangladesh Wednesday, causing at least two deaths, flooding and damage to structures.
Prior to coming ashore, Cyclone Yaas had caused at least 1.1 million people to evacuate the storm’s path.
Yaas’ winds were reportedly 130-140 kilometers per hour when it came ashore, but were expected to subside.
In Bangladesh, at least 200 villages were cut off due to flooding, and in the southern district of Patuakhali, 20 villages were reportedly under water.
Indian television aired images of flooding in the West Bengal resort town of Digha as the wind bent palm trees. Several riverbanks were reportedly breached. Some 20,000 traditional mud homes were reportedly damaged.
“I have not seen anything like this before,” said West Bengal official Bankim Hazra. “Successive high tides battered the coastline,” he added. “It is inundation all around and villages are cut off.”
India’s massive coronavirus wave complicated storm preparedness, according to news reports. The storm also interfered with testing and vaccination.
