Cyclone Yaas, ‘very severe storm’, makes landfall on Indian coast

Heavy rains and winds lash eastern India as COVID-stricken country’s second cyclone in as many weeks makes landfall.

Heavy rains and howling winds are lashing eastern India as the COVID-stricken country’s second cyclone in as many weeks makes landfall at the coast, forcing more than 1.2 million people to seek shelter. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday said Cyclone Yaas made landfall about 9am local time (03:30 GMT), generating waves higher than rooftops in some areas. “The landfall process started at 9am today. It will continue up to three or four hours,” Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the IMD director-general, told Al Jazeera.