Odisha, West Bengal brace for cyclone Yaas, evacuate 20 lakh people

With cyclone Yaas, which has now intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm, on course to hit land in Balasore in Odisha on Wednesday noon, a massive evacuation drive was conducted in Odisha and West Bengal on Tuesday, moving over 20 lakh people from low-lying area to safer zones. While West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee claimed about 11 lakh were evacuated, the Odisha government said close to 10 lakh people were moved.