Almost 1.5 million people evacuated their homes in India ahead of Cyclone Yaas making landfall in the state of Odisha on 26 May 2021.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Yaas crossed the North Odisha coast about 20km south of Balasore during the morning of 26 May 2021, with an estimated wind speed of 130 to 140 km/h and gusts of 155 km/h. Moving north-westwards Yaas later weakened to a Severe Cyclonic Storm.
IMD warned of storm surge of 2-3 meters in coastal areas of Balasore, Bhadrak and Medinipur districts in Odisha. Rainfall warnings were issued in Odisha and West Bengal. IMD said heavy rain was likely from 28 May in parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Odisha
According to India’s National Emergency Response Centre (NERC), as of 26 May the storm had affected the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Khordha, Kendrapara, Jajpur and Mayurbhanj in Odisha. Flooding, wind damage and fallen trees blocked roads, leaving villages isolated. Many were left without power.
The state’s Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, said 128 villages were marooned and announced relief aid for affected families. He said that major roads and 80% of the electricity supply to be restored in next 24 hours. Over 450 response teams have been deployed from India’s Works and Rural Development Department to help clear roads of fallen trees and flood debris.
NERC reported 1 fatality in Keonjhar district and another in Mayurbhanj district. NERC also reported hundreds of homes in affected districts have been damaged or destroyed. Many of the homes were empty after pre-emptive evacuations had moved 593,656 people to safer areas in 6,870 relief camps.
West Bengal
Pre-emptive evacuations were also carried out in West Bengal, where 809,830 people moved from their homes in coastal districts, NERC said. Kolkata’s International Airport was closed on 26 May. A tornado that preceded the storm killed two people in Hooghly district, north of Kolkata.
India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) carried out rescues in flooded coastal districts of Purba Medinipur and 24 Parganas South. Full damage assessments for West Bengal are yet to be completed. However, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told reporters that about 20,000 mud houses and temporary shelters had been damaged.

Jharkhand
In the state of Jharkhand, 10,773 people moved to 401 relief camps in safer areas, NERC reported.
IMD said Yaas has weakened into a deep depression and, as of late 26 May, lay centred over south Jharkhand and the adjoining north interior of Odisha. The storm is likely to move north-westwards and weaken gradually into a depression during by 27 May.

Social Media
Rainwater entered into Khaira Block Head Quarter in #Balasore, #Odisha following incessant rain due to #CycloneYaas (Src:@DDOdiaNews)@PMOIndia @HMOIndia @NDRFHQ @satyaprad1 @osdmaodisha @PIB_India @SRC_Odisha @PradeepJenaIAS @DBalasore @airnews_cuttack pic.twitter.com/FF5gNR1XtS
— PIB in Odisha (@PIBBhubaneswar) May 26, 2021
Salapada Village of Khaira block in #Balasore, #Odisha inaundated following heavy rain & tidal ingression caused due to #CycloneYaas (Src:@DDOdiaNews)@PMOIndia @AmitShah @HMOIndia @PIBHomeAffairs @NDRFHQ @satyaprad1 @osdmaodisha @SRC_Odisha @PradeepJenaIAS @DBalasore pic.twitter.com/iUMVKEapwo
— PIB in Odisha (@PIBBhubaneswar) May 26, 2021
Baliapal-Chaumukh PWD road of Balasore district is overtopped and traffic interrupted due to heavy rain and tide water. Baliapal PWD QRT team is close monitoring the situation. @PWD_Odisha @SRC_Odisha @CMO_Odisha @DBalasore @IPR_Odisha pic.twitter.com/eVnwY9GqRl
— PWD Balasore (@BalasorePWD) May 26, 2021
Jamujhadi-Basudevpur-Dhamara road cut off at 11th km due to heavy rain & Road restoration work is going on. PWD Bhadrak QRT team doing good job in this situation. #OdishaFightsCyclone #Bhadrak @CMO_Odisha @PWD_Odisha @SRC_Odisha @IPR_Odisha @DM_Bhadrak pic.twitter.com/1B4OOc84VC
— PWD Balasore (@BalasorePWD) May 26, 2021
Appreciate @odisha_police for its relentless effort in shifting people to safety ahead of #CycloneYaas, rescuing vulnerable people and working ceaselessly to restore normalcy at the earliest. The commitment to serve during such challenging time is praiseworthy. #OdishaFightsYaas pic.twitter.com/s66I64YQnx
— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) May 27, 2021
Reviewing post #CycloneYaas situation in the state, CM @Naveen_Odisha announced 7 days relief for all families of 128 marooned villages of the affected districts. Major roads and 80% electricity supply to be restored in the affected districts in next 24 hrs. #OdishaFightsYaas pic.twitter.com/KoIbTa0XSj
— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) May 26, 2021
RD road submerged in Chandbali Block under the jurisdiction of RW Division-II, Bhadrak. pic.twitter.com/oAmPqxpzPn
— Odisha Rural (@RDOdisha) May 27, 2021
PMGSY road submerged (Pak No OR-04-306), under RW Division-I, Bhadrak. pic.twitter.com/W8e3zNfjxM
— Odisha Rural (@RDOdisha) May 27, 2021
#ODRAF_on_the_job
Odisha #ODRAF on way to distribute relief to residents of water logged Talanagar GP, Soro Block, Balasore.
ଆମେ ବସିବୁ ନାହିଁ, ଆମେ ଥମିବୁ ନାହିଁ;
ଆମେ ଓଡିଶା ଓଡ୍ରାଫ I #OdishaFightsYaas @CMO_Odisha @SRC_Odisha @osdmaodisha pic.twitter.com/AP1FlVa41f— Odisha Police (@odisha_police) May 27, 2021
Clearance of Chandil Hatotota road under Chandbali block is being done by RW Division-II, Bhadrak pic.twitter.com/GXyG03A9Vu
— Odisha Rural (@RDOdisha) May 26, 2021
#CycloneYaasUPDATE-26/5/21 @NDRFHQ #Committed2Serve 🇮🇳
🔸#NDRF @ WORK 24×7
🔸Responding to Call of Duty
🔸Rescuing stranded citizens
🔸Flooding/High-Waterlogging
🔸Rangafala
🔸S 24 Pargana,WB@PMOIndia @HMOIndia @PIBHomeAffairs @BhallaAjay26 @ANI @PIBKolkata pic.twitter.com/Dgph4gl3dR— ѕαtчα prαdhαnसत्य नारायण प्रधान ସତ୍ଯପ୍ରଧାନ-DG NDRF (@satyaprad1) May 26, 2021