Several places across Jharkhand experienced heavy rain due to the impact of Cyclone Yaas which made landfall on Wednesday morning near Dhamra port in Bhadrak district in neighbouring Odisha.

Southern and central Jharkhand comprising East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharsawan Simdega, Ranchi, Ramgarh, Dhanbad and Bokaro were affected the most, experiencing gusty winds and intermittent rain throughout the day.

Head of Ranchi Met Centre Abhishek Anand said the intensity of the wind and rain would increase as the severe cyclonic storm was expected to cross the Kolhan region as a cyclonic storm past midnight.

"The severe cyclonic storm over north coastal Odisha, which had a wind speed of over 130 kmph, is expected to cross the tri-junction of the three Kolhan districts past midnight at wind speeds of 60kmph to 70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph. Heavy rainfall is also expected in the districts of East-Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharsawan, West-Singhbhum and Simdega in the next 24 hours. Heavy rainfall is also likely at isolated places of Gumla, Khunti, Lohardaga, Ramgarh and Ranchi in the next 24 hours, " he said, adding that most of these would also experience squally wind.

According to the Met office head, after Kolhan the storm would move towards Khunti on Thursday, gradually lose steam and move further into northern Jharkhand.

Gusty winds and rain at Dimna on the outskirts of Jamshedpur on Wednesday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

IMD's Ranchi Met Centre warned of heavy rain in northern Jharkhand, including Palamau, Garhwa and Hazaribagh, on Thursday and Friday (May 27 and May 28) with gusty winds blowing at speeds of 50kmph to 60kmph. It forecast thunderstorms accompanied with lightning and gusty winds at speeds of 30kmph-40 kmph at isolated places in Jharkhand on Saturday, May 29.

Kolhan on high alert

The administration of three Kolhan districts _ East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan _has issued a high alert in view of the approaching cyclone.

Deputy commissioner of East Singhbhum Suraj Kumar reviewed the situation on Wednesday morning and ensured that residents of low-lying areas were shifted to safer places, including government buildings converted as shelters.

The NDRF team was also deployed in various places across Kolhan for rescue and relief operations.