Cyclone Yaas Intensifies Into "Very Severe" Cyclonic Storm: Weather Department

Cyclone Yaas: The India Meteorological Department has issued a red-coded warning alert to the Odisha and West Bengal coasts.

Cyclone Yaas intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm this evening, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General M Mohapatra said. The IMD has also issued a red-coded warning alert to the Odisha and West Bengal coasts. "The severe cyclonic storm Yaas (pronounced as Yass) over northwest and Bay of Bengal intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm," Mr Mohapatra said. It is very likely to move north-northwestwards, intensify further and reach near north Odisha coast close to Dhamra port by the early morning of Wednesday.