Mamata Banerjee will conduct an aerial survey of cyclone-affected areas in East Midnapore, North 24-Paragans and South 24-Paragans on Friday, chief secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said on Wednesday.

“Honourable chief minister has decided (that) day after tomorrow, after waiting for the water to drain out and for the weather to get better, on May 28, she will conduct an aerial survey of the cyclone-hit areas where embankments have been destroyed, flooded by water and will hold local administrative reviews on the aftermath at several points…” Bandyopadhyay said.

The chief secretary said Mamata would first survey the affected areas of Sandeshkhali and Dhamakhali in North 24-Parganas. She will then hold a local review meeting at Hingalganj. After that, the chief minister will fly to Sagar in South 24-Parganas and on her way, will aerially take stock of the flood situation in the Sunderbans. At Sagar, she will hold her second meeting.

Finally, Mamata will fly to Digha in East Midnapore and en route, conduct the aerial survey of Contai, Ramnagar, Nandigram and Deshpran. Her last review meeting will be at Digha. She is supposed to return to Calcutta on May 29.

Mamata, who had remained stationed at Nabanna since Tuesday, along with top officials, including Bandyopadhyay, left the secretariat little after 4pm on Wednesday.

Before leaving, Mamata urged people, who had been evacuated to relief centres, not to return home as long as the risk of high tides prevailed.

“There will be a high tide today…it (the water level) will go above 5 meters…it will happen around 8.45pm…I’ll tell everyone that during the high tide tomorrow (Thursday)…don’t try to get back to your homes unless the water level goes down…because the water from the river has destroyed several embankments…it (the surged water level) will stay for two days…” Mamata said at the latter of the two news conferences she convened on Wednesday.

The high tides are likely to affect Kalighat, Rashbehari, some parts of Bhowanipore and Chetla in Calcutta, Digha, Mandarmani, Nandigram and Haldia in East Midnapore, parts of West Midnapore, Sagar, Patharpratima, Namkhana, Gosaba and Kulpi in South 24-Parganas, Sandeshkhali, Minakhan and Hingalganj in North 24-Parganas, said officials.

Earlier in the day, Mamata held a news conference after it became clear that the devastation would be more in Odisha as the cyclone had made a landfall in Balashore and rolled out details of how the government minimised potential damage.According to Mamata, 15,04,506 people were evacuated in the past two-three days, but despite that, about one crore lives were affected by the cyclone and 3 lakh houses damaged. “The numbers will go up once we get all reports,” said the chief minister.

Government sources said 10 lakh tarpaulins and relief material worth of Rs 10 crore had been distributed so far.

One person, a resident of Ramnagar 1 block of East Midnapore, has died in the storm. Mamata and the officials said the death was accidental since that person had gone out to catch fish after being evacuated to a relief centre.

Mamata also set up a task force and a committee headed by Bandyopadhyay for relief, rehabilitation and restoration.

The committee will take stock of the losses and decide on the course of reconstruction and rehabilitation. The government will take 72 hours to completely assess losses.

Mamata also said the government would stand by the people who had lost their lives.

Mamata congratulated all agencies — both central and state — which worked together to help the state brace itself for Yaas.