The states of West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand are on high alert with the commencement of the landfall process of Cyclone Yaas, which intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm on its course over the Bay of Bengal. The coasts of Odisha and Bengal coasts are on red alert with over 12 lakh people evacuated. The storm is expected to cross Dhamra and south of Balasore in Odisha by today noon.

The Eastern Command of the Indian Army and has deployed several columns for relief and rescue operations in West Bengal. The Army columns have been deployed at Purulia, Jhargram, Birbhum, Bardhaman, West Midnapore, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, South and North 24 Parganas districts, the official said.