The hurricane known as Yass moving north in the Bay of Bengal is likely to hit the eastern states of West Bengal and Orissa on Wednesday.

The Bureau of Meteorology of India warned that the eastern coast of India is being hit by a strong cyclone. Last week, the death toll increased during a huge storm in the western part of the country that was hit by the coronavirus, causing an increase in the death toll.

The Meteorological Service of India said that as the Bay of Bengal moves northward, the low pressure is bound to form a cyclone-known as Yas-before intensifying and hitting the eastern states of West Bengal and Orissa on Wednesday.

This storm can cause violent winds of up to 165 kilometers (100 miles) per hour, reaching an altitude of 185 kilometers (115 miles) per hour in mid-Wednesday. This is the third largest category of “very severe cyclone storms.” The department said on Sunday.

It also warns of storm surges of up to four meters (13 feet) in coastal areas.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that he hosted a meeting about the approaching storm and deployed military and disaster teams to help with preparations and potential rescue operations.

Hurricane Yaas will strike quickly after India’s first tropical storm, Hurricane Tauktae, hit this quarter. Hurricane Tauktae hit the western state of Gujarat last Monday.

The Navy said the death toll from the hurricane rose to at least 140 people on Sunday, and 70 bodies have been recovered after the hurricane hit an oil rig and several support ships near Mumbai.

The navy rescued about 600 people, but five people were still missing on the barge where the oil workers sank in the storm.

The Navy said in a statement on Sunday: “Search and rescue operations for ships and helicopters/aircraft will continue in the area to find the rest of the crew of the sunken ship.”

India’s neighbour Bangladesh, which borders West Bengal, said it is monitoring Yaas.

“As a precaution, all ships and trawlers have been ordered to approach the coast. Tomorrow (Monday), we will have a better direction.” Bazlur Ra, senior weather forecaster, Bangladesh Meteorological Service ??Shid) told AFP.

Scientists say that due to climate change causing sea temperatures to rise, cyclones in densely populated areas are now increasingly being hit by waves of deadly COVID-19 infections.

In May last year, the “super hurricane” Amphan struck eastern India and Bangladesh, razed villages, destroyed farms, cut power to millions of people, and killed more than 110 people.