At least 20 people killed and thousands of homes destroyed as cyclone Amphan makes landfall in Eastern India and Bangladesh

More deaths have been confirmed as government officials inspect areas severely affected by the cyclone Amphan in Eastern India and Bangladesh near Sundarbans forest. We have got reports that thousands of houses and other buildings have destroyed as well as several transformers have exploded as gusts of wind with speeds upto 170 kmph stormed into the coastlines of both neighboring countries. Millions of people spent a sleepless night without power as the strongest cyclone made landfall to theses coasts with heavy rainfall. Cyclone Amphan took lives of at least 12 people in West Bengal, India and killing at least 8 people in Bangladesh according to new reports, while officials still await confirmation of status from Sundarbans forest, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We still haven't got the actual picture of the damage. We are particularly concerned over some wild animals. They can be washed away during storm surge in high tide, said Forest Chief, Moyeen Uddin Khan.

Area after area has been devastated. Communications are disrupted, and the state authorities had not entirely anticipated the ferocity of the storm, said West Bengal's Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee.

Cyclone Amphan damages 5500 houses and kills 2 in West Bengal, India and 3 in Bangladesh

As expected cyclone Amphan made landfall in coastlines of India and Bangladesh, damaging about 5500 houses and killing at least two people, including an infant also severely injuring two others in North 24 Parganas, district in West Bengal, India. Strong gusts of wind with speeds over 100 kmph have hit the state's capital Kolkata and it's neighborhood along with heavy downpour as Cyclone Amphan unleashed India and Bangladesh earlier today. We have seen several videos surfacing on the internet showing parked cars bumping into each others in Kolkata, rooftop of a school building in Howrah City fly off and trees falling over electric lines and transformers as strong wind storm across the state. While in Bangladesh, the officials reported three deaths, including a five years old boy and a 75 years old man, both being hit by falling trees and an emergency volunteer drowning.

The next 24 hours are very crucial. This is a long haul, said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the Director General of the India Meteorological Department.

Cyclone Amphan expected to hit Indian and Bangladesh coasts near Sundarbans today post 4 PM

Cyclone Amphan, the strongest storms ever formed over the west-central Bay of Bengal is likely expected to make a landfall near Sunderbans today between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM (local time). Indian states West Bengal and Odisha along with Bangladesh are on high alert and is they expect strong winds and heavy rain in these parts. Cyclone Amphan will cross India and Bangladesh coasts between Digha, town in West Bengal and Hatia Island in Bangladesh close to Sundarbans today with wind speeds of 155 to 165 kilometres per hours gusting upto 185 kmph.

Here is the list of do's and don'ts released by the National Disaster Management Authority, Government of India. Please go through carefully.