Cyclone Yaas causes destruction in Odisha, West Bengal

Cyclone Yaas flattened houses, uprooted trees, blew off roofs and destroyed tens of thousands of mud houses, while a storm surge inundated coastal villages in West Bengal and Odisha.

Cyclone Yaas flattened houses, uprooted trees, blew off roofs and destroyed tens of thousands of mud houses, while a storm surge inundated coastal villages in Odisha and West Bengal. Credit: AFP Photo

Cyclone Yaas was packing gusts of up to 140 kph (87 mph) as it hit land, authorities said, triggering mass evacuations and piling pressure on authorities battling a deadly second wave of the coronavirus. Credit: AFP Photo

A man wades through a water-logged road after rains ahead of Cyclone Yaas at Digha in Bengal. Credit: Reuters Photo

By noon, the

Cyclones in the Bay of Bengal are common at this time of year, and often roar ashore, bringing death and destruction to the coastal areas. Credit: AFP Photo

It also forced the busiest regional airport in Kolkata to shut, as it brought storm surges to coastal areas, the second such event within a week. Credit: PTI Photo

A resident walks amidst debris near stalls in a beachfront area while strong winds batter Balasore district in Odisha. Credit: AFP Photo

Residents shift their belongings from makeshifts stalls to a safer place while strong winds batter Balasore district in Odisha. Credit: AFP Photo

A priest removes an idol of Lord Jagannath from a seafront temple to a safer place while strong winds batter Balasore district in Odisha. Credit: AFP Photo

A tree collapses due to strong winds during landfall of cyclone Yaas in Ranchi. Credit: PTI Photo

Residents shift structures of makeshifts stalls as water reaches a road at a beachfront area while strong winds batter Balasore district in Odisha. Credit: AFP Photo

Residents move to a safer place ahead of Cyclone Yaas at Digha in Bengal. Credit: Reuters Photo

Residents walk in a beachfront area as sea water reaches a nearby road while Cyclone Yaas makes the landfall. Credit: AFP Photo

A woman walks past a flooded area with sea water in Digha. Credit: AFP Photo

High tides are seen in Digha's coastal areas during the landfall of cyclone Yaas. Credit: PTI Photo