Severe cyclonic storm 'Remal' is likely to make a landfall between Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts by midnight of Sunday with maximum sustained wind speed of 110-120 km per hour, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said.
The coastal districts of West Bengal are likely to witnesses extremely heavy rainfall on May 27 and 28.
“Remal is very likely to move nearly northwards, intensify further and cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara, close to southwest of Mongla in the neighbouring country, by Sunday midnight as a severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph,” the IMD said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meting to review the preparedness of states and central ministries and agencies concerned to deal with the situation. Modi directed officials to take every possible measure to ensure that people are safely evacuated and to ensure maintenance of all essential services.
In a post on X, Union Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju informed that cyclone has a maximum wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph and is expected to intensify further.
“It is very likely to continue to move nearly northwards, intensify further and cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara, close to southwest of Mongla (Bangladesh) by midnight of today, the 26th May 2024 as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph," the minister said.
The IMD has warned of localised flooding and major damage to vulnerable structures, power and communication lines, kutcha roads, crops and orchards in South and North 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal. People in the affected areas have been asked to remain indoors and vacate vulnerable structures.
Somnath Dutta, eastern regional head of IMD, however, said cyclone Remal will cause lesser damage than what happened in the wake of super cyclone Amphan which had caused widespread destruction in Kolkata, South and North 24 Parganas, Howrah and Nadia.
The IMD has warned heavy to very heavy rainfall in north Odisha and northeastern states of Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura on May 27 and 28.
The authorities of Kolkata airport have decided to suspend flight operations for 21 hours from Sunday noon in view of the possible impact of cyclone Remal.
A total of 394 flights, arrival and departure, in both international and domestic sectors would not operate to and fro the airport during the flight suspension period, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) spokesperson said.
West Bengal on alert
The Indian Coast Guard's North East Region authorities have taken all pre-emptive measures to ensure there is no loss of life or property at sea.
ICG's remote operating stations at Haldia and Paradip were alerting fishing vessels and merchant ships through very high frequency broadcasts.
Nine disaster relief teams have also been kept on standby at Haldia, Fraserganj in West Bengal and Paradip and Gopalpur in Odisha.
A control room has been set up at the Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar to coordinate state agency effort.
Ten police teams have been deployed across ten police divisions of Kolkata city.
NDRF has deployed teams with equipment across several districts including Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Howrah and Hooghly.
