Amphan moving into a super storm . Warning of hurricane winds at high speed

States like Odisha, West Bengal and Kerala are preparing to face a major storm as the Amphan-based storm surge in the Bay of Bengal. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Udayakumar has said that the storm will not affect Tamil Nadu.

The Indian Meteorological Department has announced that the Oommen storm in the Bay of Bengal has turned into a high-intensity storm. Amphan, which later became a super storm, is heading towards the Odisha Bay.

The storm is expected to cross the coast of West Bengal and Bangladesh at noon on the 20th, near the West Bank's Thika beach.

Bhubaneswar Meteorological Department Director HR Piswas said heavy rains in Ghaziabad, Buri, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara in Orissa are expected.

He added that hurricanes could blow at speeds of 155 to 165 kilometers per hour as the storm passes.

37 teams from the National Disaster Rescue Squadron have been sent to 7 districts of Odisha and 6 districts of West Bengal. The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert to 13 districts in 14 districts of Kerala.

Heavy rain in Mangalore, Karnataka Rameshwaram was hit by a thunderstorm in the wake of Umpan Storm. Boats parked in the harbor collided with one another.

Revenue Minister RP Ramachandran with satellite image that Tamil Nadu will not be affected by the storm. Udayakumar explained.

He also said the South-West monsoon rains had begun and precautionary measures had been taken.

Revenue Executive Commissioner Radhakrishnan said that steps are being taken to prevent deaths due to thunder and lightning as the southwest monsoon is about to begin.

Prime Minister Modi consulted with Interior and National Disaster Management officials on storm warnings.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also attended the meeting and gave advice on how to deal with storm impacts.