Causing extensive damage, Cyclone Yaas made its landfall on south of Balasore in Odisha at 9:15 am on Wednesday, 26 May, morning. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General M Mohapatra, Cyclone Yaas intensified into a ‘very severe’ cyclonic storm on Tuesday, 25 May, evening.
The low-lying areas and beach towns of north Odisha and neighbouring West Bengal were severely hit, with a speed of 130 - 140 kmph and completed the landfall process around 1 pm.
The ‘very severe’ cyclone is likely to move north-northwest and weaken into a 'severe cyclonic storm', before weakening further into a 'cyclonic storm' by night.
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