India and Bangladesh on Wednesday underwent a major natural disaster — the storm Ampan, which may be the most devastating hurricane after the cyclone in 1999 that claimed over 9 million lives. The greatest strength storm will reach in the evening. The situation is complicated by the fact that Ampan hit the region in the midst of a pandemic that threatens not only the mass casualties and destruction, but also creates the risk of new foci of infection with coronavirus in one of the most densely populated and vulnerable to natural disasters parts of Asia.The first signs came in the region of the disaster, which threatens to become the largest in the last two decades, on Wednesday morning became the strongest downpours and Gale-force winds on the shore of the Bay of Bengal in India and Bangladesh. The first impact of elements took the Islands of Digha (India, West Bengal) and Hatiya (Bangladesh), after which Bangladeshi authorities evacuating 2.6 million people, reported about the first victims.About the approaching storm to the shores of India became known yesterday. Ampan cyclone originated in the Bay of Bengal, located in the northeastern part of the Indian ocean, between India on the West, Bangladesh to the North and Myanmar in the East. Started moving to the coast last Saturday, by Tuesday Ampan was 420 km South of Indian state of Odisha, 570 km South-South-West of West Bengal and 700 km South-South-West of Bangladesh.Meteorologists determined that the main attack element will cause today. In addition to rural areas in the risk area was the capital of West Bengal Kolkata is the largest industrial and financial centre of North-East India, which, together with the suburbs (Greater Kolkata) live 14 million people.Photo: ARV connection with the approaching storm, authorities warned that the disaster can be destroyed homes, disrupted rail and road connections, carried out in the sea boats and ships, fallen trees and flooded plantations. “We are faced with the dual challenge of a cyclone during a pandemic COVID-19″— said the head of the National response force disaster India Satya Narayan Pradhan, assuring that his Department “takes all precautions in accordance with the magnitude of the challenge.”Given that Ampan will be the first supercolonies storm in the Bay of Bengal over the last two decades — the previous similar cyclone in 1999 killed more than 9 thousand people, Prime Minister Narendra modi held Monday for an emergency meeting, discussed the plan of evacuation of people from the coast.”Conducted readiness inspection in connection with the situation in connection with the cyclone Amfan. Discussed response measures, and evacuation plans. I pray for everyone’s safety and assure that the Central government will provide the entire region possonuu support,” said Mr. modi in his Twitter account following the meeting with the government.Photo: Kawakaze began on Tuesday, and, as stated by the chief Minister of West Bengal, by Wednesday morning it was already evacuated about 600 thousand people. For the evacuation of the National response force disaster posted in West Bengal and Odisha, several dozen operational teams who had to evacuate residents from potentially dangerous structures such as mud houses with thatched roofs. Recall that in the previous hurricane of 1999 affected more than 15 thousand.Meanwhile, unlike the previous storm, 20 years later the situation is dramatically compounded by the fact that now the authorities have to wage war on two fronts — with the natural disaster and coronavirus. Despite the introduced in the country in late March, the regime of strict quarantine, which was subsequently weakened in certain regions, several States and major cities of the country Delhi and Mumbai continue to be in the red zone. The number of cases in the country is growing rapidly and has already exceeded 100 thousand persons, in connection with the lockdown on Monday was extended to may 31, (in neighbouring Bangladesh, there were 25 thousand infected).”We announced the West Bengal and Odisha that shelters must be strictly adhered to social distance. If the shelter has space to accommodate thousands of people, there should be 500″,— explained in live Indian TV channel NDTV, the head of the National response force disaster Satya Narayan Pradhan.Meanwhile, the capacity of local authorities is very limited. Detention centers patients with coronavirus is already full, and the challenge of compliance with social distance is extremely difficult. However, due to the perceived new threat, the authorities were forced to suspend the movement of trains running in the North-East. While in extreme situations the authorities of both States consider the placement of refugees in schools and other buildings, capable of becoming a temporary shelter.Sergey Strokan
