Kolkata Cyclone Remal Highlights: Cyclone Remal made a landfall in the coastal areas of West Bengal and Bangladesh and was followed by heavy rain and gusty winds in the region. The severe cyclonic storm has now weakened into a Cyclonic Storm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
As per the IMD, the cyclone moved northwards and crossed the coasts of Bangladesh and adjacent West Bengal between Sagar Islands and Khepupara, near the southwest of Mongla. In its wake, several regions in India and Bangladesh were met with strong winds and heavy rain. Millions have been left without electricity after power poles fell. A man was killed in Kolkata when concrete chunks fell on him during the peak of the storm, police said. A total of six people have died in India, while in Bangladesh the death toll was at 10, as per Reteurs.
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Cyclone Remal Live Updates
Cyclone Remal has left at least six people dead in West Bengal and claimed another 10 lives in Bagladesh, Reuters reported.
The severe cyclonic storm 'Remal' has weakened since making landfall last night and is expected to downgrade into a deep depression by this evening, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) announced on Monday.
Severe Cyclone 'Remal' struck the coasts of Bangladesh with devastating winds reaching up to 120 kph and powerful storm surges, resulting in the deaths of at least seven people and leaving millions without power. The cyclone inundated hundreds of villages, causing widespread destruction.
#watch | On Cyclone Remal, DIG (NDRF) Mohsen Shahidi says, "The current information that we have from the IMD is that the severe cyclonic storm has now transformed into a cyclonic storm. The wind speed which was earlier about 110 to 120 km/hr during landfall, now has come down to… pic.twitter.com/BypCP1gj8h
— ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2024
Three people were injured, and vehicular movement was disrupted as uprooted trees obstructed several parts of Kolkata following Cyclone Remal's landfall in West Bengal and neighboring Bangladesh, a PTI report said citing offiicals.
In response to Cyclone 'Remal' making landfall over coastal areas of West Bengal and Bangladesh, the Sealdah division of the Eastern Railway implemented a series of measures. From May 25 to May 27, emergency control rooms were established, and pumps were installed at critical locations to address potential waterlogging. Additionally, frequent public announcements were made at all stations, according to the Railways.
Flight services have resumed at Kolkata airport after 21 hours of suspension.
#watch | Northe 24 Parganas, West Bengal: Morning visuals from Sunderban after cyclone Remal made landfall yesterday night. pic.twitter.com/55RVevVSSW
— ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2024
#watch | West Bengal: Heavy rain and gusty winds lash Kolkata; visuals from Kalighat.
— ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2024
As per IMD, Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS) “Remal” over the North Bay of Bengal about 110 km east of Sagar Islands (West Bengal),to move nearly northwards and cross Bangladesh and adjoining WB… pic.twitter.com/4PWmLVnOp0
Efforts to restore normalcy are underway, with emergency services working to clear debris and restore power in the affected areas. However, continuous heavy rain is hampering these operations in many of the impacted regions, officials said. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but initial reports suggest that it will take considerable time and effort to recover from this natural disaster.
Severe Cyclonic Storm Remal over Coastal Bangladesh and adjoining Coastal West Bengal weakened into Cyclonic Storm at 0530hrs of the 27 May about 70km northeast of Canning and 30km westsouthwest of Mongla. The system is likely to gradually weaken further: IMD pic.twitter.com/4IYjwZyzLF
— ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2024
The Indian Coast Guard is presently monitoring the situation closely with a disaster response team, ships, and hovercraft on standby, an ANI report said.
According to the police, a man was killed in Kolkata after concrete fell on him as the storm peaked.
The severe cyclonic storm is now moving northward and will gradually weaken into a Cyclonic Storm today, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
#watch | Cyclone 'Remal' | Howrah, West Bengal: As a precautionary measure, trains at the Shalimar railway station were tied to the railway track with the help of chains and locks to keep the trains from sliding away due to strong winds. pic.twitter.com/3PQtlCO4KT
— ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2024
চট্টগ্রামের উপকূল থেকে ঘূর্ণিঝর রিমালের এক্সক্লুসিভ ফুটেজ#bangladesh #chattogram #cycloneremal pic.twitter.com/mpCvkKUmUS
— The Daily Star (@dailystarnews) May 26, 2024
#watch | Sagar Island, West Bengal: NDRF team clears road after a tree uprooted near Sagar bypass road amid heavy rain and gusty winds.#cycloneremal pic.twitter.com/yxmoqKzYUZ
— ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2024
Tripura Disaster Management Authority Secretary Brijesh Pandey said, “Our state and district emergency operation centres will function 24/7. The cyclone is turning into a severe cyclonic storm. Schools and educational centres will remain closed on May 27 and 28.”
As per IMD, Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS) “Remal” over the North Bay of Bengal about 110 km east of Sagar Islands (West Bengal),to move nearly northwards and cross Bangladesh and adjoining WB coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara, close to SW of Mongla (Bangladesh) in next 3 hrs as SCS. (ANI)
The IMD has issued a 'red alert' for the districts of Chirang, Goalpara, Baksa, Dima Hasao, Cachar, Hailakandi, and Karimganj. Additionally, an 'orange alert' is in place for Dhubri, South Salmara, Bongaigaon, Bajali, Tamulpur, Barpeta, Nalbari, Morigaon, Nagaon, Hojai and West Karbi Anglong.
In anticipation of severe cyclone 'Remal', the West Bengal government has taken proactive steps, evacuating over 1.10 lakh individuals from coastal areas, including the Sundarbans and Sagar Island, to secure shelters, a senior official stated on Sunday.
To enhance these measures, 16 battalions from both the state disaster management and NDRF have been deployed in the coastal regions, the official added.
"Evacuation efforts have focused on relocating 1.10 lakh individuals from coastal regions to safe shelters, with a significant portion originating from South 24 Parganas district, particularly Sagar Island, Sundarbans, and Kakdwip," the official informed PTI.
Landfall process has commenced over coastal areas of Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal. It will continue for the next 4 hours, IMD said.
Cyclone Remal over the North Bay of Bengal is to move northwards about 130 km southeast of Sagar Islands (WB), 140 km southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), 140 km southeast of Canning (WB), 160 km southwest of Mongla of Bangladesh and cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts by midnight today with a max wind speed of 110-120 kmph, it added. (ANI)
Eastern Railways has cancelled 46 local trains ahead of the cyclonic storm Remal.
https://x.com/PTI_News/status/1794757287812235291
The impending landfall of severe cyclone Remal has caused significant disruptions in air, rail, and road transportation across Kolkata and South Bengal. Kolkata airport authorities have suspended flight operations for 21 hours starting Sunday noon. Eastern and South Eastern railways have cancelled multiple train services.
Intermittent showers and gusty winds have affected South Bengal districts since Sunday morning, resulting in reduced public transport services in Kolkata and nearby towns.
Further disruptions in road and rail transport are expected on Monday as cyclone Remal is forecasted to make landfall by midnight Sunday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a meeting to review response and preparedness for cyclonic storm Remal which is likely to make landfall between Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts around midnight.
The severe cyclone has led to heavy rains in the coastal districts of West Bengal and in Kolkata.
Sources said Prime Minister Modi chaired the meeting to review the response and preparedness for cyclone Remal.
Remal is very likely to move nearly northwards, intensify further and cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara by Sunday midnight as a severe cyclonic storm with the maximum sustained wind speed of 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph, the weather office said. (PTI)
As per the Kolkata Airport Authority, 394 flights that were scheduled for arrival or departure including domestic and international have been suspended from Sunday noon to Monday 9 am. This includes 170 domestic tentative departures and 26 international tentative arrivals.
The Met department has issued heavy rainfall warning for four districts of Odisha in the wake of Cyclone Remal approaching the coast. Under its impact, heavy rainfall of 7 to 11 cm has been predicted for Bhadrak, Balasore, Kendrapara and Mayurbhanj districts.
In view of the cyclone, the IMD has hoisted local cautionary signal number 3 at Paradip and Chandbali ports and distant warning signal number 2 (DW-II) for Gopalpur and Puri ports. Surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph would prevail at a few places over the districts of Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Puri, Khurda, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, and Jagatsinghpur till 8.30 am on Monday.
Remal, moving northward, is likely to intensify further before crossing the coasts between Sagar Island (West Bengal) and Khepupara (Bangladesh), near the southwest of Mongla port, around midnight on Sunday, the weather office reported.
Airport Authority of India, Agartala, announced that all flights arriving from Kolkata to Agartala are cancelled until 9 am on May 27. Passengers are being notified by the respective airlines, while flights from Delhi, Bangalore, and Guwahati are currently operating as scheduled, with further updates expected. “Since Kolkata airport has already been shut down due to the cyclonic storm, all flights to and from MBB Airport to Kolkata have been suspended, but services on other routes, that is Agartala-Guwahati, Agartala-Delhi, and Agartala-Bangalore, are operating normally,” said an AAI official.
Here's what we know so far about the preparations being made by West Bengal government ahead of Cyclone Remal landfall: