Cyclone Remal Highlights | As Remal makes landfall, West Bengal administration evacuates people from low-lying and coastal areas

A ‘red alert’ has been issued for extremely heavy rainfall in seven districts of Assam, and an ‘orange alert’ in 11 districts, according to an official release.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to concerned officials. He further assured that appropriate steps have been taken to avert any possible damage.

As a precautionary measure against impending severe cyclone ‘Remal’, the West Bengal government has evacuated over 1.10 lakh people from coastal regions, including the Sundarbans and Sagar Island, to secure shelters, a senior official said on Sunday.

To bolster these efforts, 16 battalions each from the state disaster management and NDRF have been deployed in the coastal areas, the official added.

“Evacuation efforts have concentrated on relocating 1.10 lakh people from coastal regions to safe shelters, with a significant number hailing from South 24 Parganas district, notably Sagar Island, Sunderbans, and Kakdwip,” the official informed PTI.

With severe cyclone ‘Remal’ set to make landfall in West Bengal around midnight, Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose has decided to stay awake throughout the night to monitor the situation from Raj Bhavan, an official statement said.

Additionally, the governor has announced the opening of Raj Bhavan’s doors to the public, should they require safe accommodation or any other form of assistance, the official added.

Mr. Bose has also set up a medical task force to provide assistance to the general public during this critical period, the statement added.

“Governor Bose and senior officials of the Raj Bhavan will be available throughout the night on call. The governor set up a task force to assist the public in this hour of need. Raj Bhavan will be open for the public, in case they need safe accommodation and other support,” the official said.

- PTI

Nearly a million people flee inland for concrete storm shelters away from howling gales and crashing waves.

“The severe Cyclone Remal has started crossing the Bangladesh coast,” Bangladesh Meteorological Department Director Azizur Rahman said, adding the raging storm could continue hammering the coast until at least the early hours of Monday morning.​

Met officials said the landfall process of Remal, with its centre about 30 km from the coastline at 8.30 pm, will continue for about four hours.

“The landfall process of severe cyclonic storm ‘Remal’ commenced over the adjacent coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh between Sagar Island and Khepupara close to the southwest of Mongla in the neighbouring country,” a Met official said, adding that it will hit land around midnight.

Landfall process has commenced over coastal areas of Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal. It will continue for next 4 hours.

The severe cyclonic storm ‘Remal’ has intensified and moved northwards and is likely to cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara, close to southwest of Mongla (Bangladesh) by Sunday midnight.

According to India Meteorological Department, the severe cyclonic storm will have “a maximum sustained wind speed of 110-120 kmph, gusting to 135 kmph.”

“The outer cloud band lies over coastal areas of Bangladesh and West Bengal. The landfall process will commence in next few hours,” an IMD bulletin said.

South Bengal districts recorded light to moderate rainfall in the past 24 hours till 5.30 pm on Sunday as severe cyclonic storm ‘Remal’ approached the adjoining coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh for a landfall by midnight, the Met office said.

Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas received 68.4 mm rainfall, while Kanthi in Purba Medinipur district recorded 58 mm during the period, Met officials said.

Remal is very likely to cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara, close to southwest of Mongla in the neighbouring country, by Sunday midnight, the weather office said.

- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi 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.

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.

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Satyabrata Sahu reviewed the preparations made by the collectors of the four districts in view of the warning, officials said.

Around 20,000 fishing boats were safely berthed and collectors of the four districts were instructed to use Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and fire services in case a situation arises, they said.

Mr. Sahu said that rainfall has already started in the coastal districts of Odisha since this morning and will intensify, with the cyclone making landfall by midnight.

- PTI

The impending landfall of severe cyclone Remal has led to significant disruptions in air, rail, and road transportation in Kolkata and other parts of South Bengal on Sunday, with concerns expected to continue into Monday.

Disruptions in road and rail transport are anticipated on Monday, due to the effects of the cyclone’s landfall, expected by midnight on Sunday.

A total of 394 flights — both international and domestic — will not operate during the flight suspension period, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) official said. This precautionary measure was taken after a meeting with stakeholders of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport, the official added.

- PTI

Expressing concern over the imminent landfall of severe Cyclone Remal in the coastal areas of West Bengal on Sunday midnight, Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose said he is closely monitoring the situation and is in constant touch with state and central experts to ensure a coordinated response to counter it.

Mr. Bose emphasised the importance of safety for residents in the coastal regions of Bengal, urging them to adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for cyclones.

“Governor Bose is keeping a watch on the situation and is in touch with experts and authorities in the state and the Centre for a coordinated effort to endure the cyclone,” the West Bengal Raj Bhavan posted on X.

- PTI

The Tripura government issued a red alert in four districts — South, Dhalai, Khowai, and West — in the wake of severe cyclonic storm ‘Remal’ which is likely to make landfall between Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts by midnight.

“On Sunday, the chief secretary convened a meeting of the state executive committee of disaster management with all stakeholders to review the preparedness for ‘Remal’. Officials from the revenue and meteorological departments, Airports Authority of India and security forces attended the meet,” revenue secretary Brijesh Pandey told reporters.

“Thunderstorms with lightning, squally winds reaching speeds of 60 kmph, gusting to 70 kmph, and heavy to very heavy rainfall are likely in isolated areas of South, Dhalai, Khowai, and West Tripura districts on May 27. Hence, a red alert has been issued in these four districts,” he added.

- PTI

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Bangladesh on Sunday launched an intensified evacuation campaign in vulnerable areas as it prepares for severe cyclonic storm ‘Remal’ forecast to make landfall by evening or midnight with a potential high tidal surge and heavy rainfall in the country’s coastal districts of Satkhira and Cox’s Bazar.

According to the latest cyclone warning bulletin, ‘Remal’ is likely to move in a northerly direction and may cross Sagar island of West Bengal-Khepupara coast near Mongla by evening or midnight, the BSS news agency reported.

“A large-scale evacuation has already started. All vulnerable people are presumed to be moved to safer places at the shortest possible time,” Director General of the Department of Disaster Management Mizanur Rahman was quoted as saying by the BSS.

- PTI

With the Cyclonic Storm “Remal,” now centred over the Bay of Bengal intensifying into a Severe Cyclonic Storm, urgent preparatory measures across Tripura are being put in place. 

The storm, expected to bring maximum sustained wind speeds of 110-120 kmph with gusts up to 135 kmph, is likely to make landfall around 11 pm on Sunday near Khepupara and Sagar Island. 

In anticipation of the storm’s impact, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) have issued advisories predicting increased rainfall and heavy winds in Tripura from the night of May 26 to May 29. The state is bracing for heavy rainfall and gusty winds in isolated areas during this period.

Following the advisories, the Revenue Department of Tripura issued instructions to District Magistrates and Collectors on May 24 to initiate preparatory measures. The Secretary of Revenue (RR&DM) is in constant communication with district officials to ensure comprehensive mitigation efforts. State and District Emergency Operation Centres are operating 24x7 to manage the situation.

- ANI

Union Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju on Sunday shared an update on Severe Cyclonic storm ‘Remal’, which is likely to make landfall between Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts by midnight of Sunday with maximum sustained wind speed of 110-120 kilometres per hour gusting to 135 kmph, according to the Met department.

“The Severe Cyclonic Storm “Remal” (pronounced as “Re-Mal”) over North Bay of Bengal moved nearly northwards, with a speed of 07 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centered at 0830 hrs IST of today, the 26th May, 2024 over North Bay of Bengal near latitude 19.8°N and longitude 89.3°E about 260 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), 310 km south of Mongla (Bangladesh), 240 km south-southeast of Sagar Islands (West Bengal) and 280 km south-southeast of Canning (West Bengal),” Mr. Rijiju said in a post on ‘X’.

- ANI

Tens of thousands of Bangladeshis left their coastal villages Sunday for concrete storm shelters further inland as the low-lying nation prepared for the expected landfall of an intense cyclone, officials said.

Cyclone Remal is set to hit the southern coast and parts of neighbouring India on Sunday evening, with Bangladesh’s weather department predicting crashing waves and howling gales with gusts of up to 130 kilometres (81 miles) per hour.

Cyclones have killed hundreds of thousands of people in Bangladesh in recent decades, but the number of superstorms hitting its low-lying, densely populated coast have increased sharply -- from one a year to as many as three -- due to the impact of climate change.

- AFP

The Indian Navy has initiated preparatory actions, following existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), to mount a credible Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) response in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal. 

Coast on the intervening night of May 26 and 27. The situation is being closely monitored at Naval Headquarters, with comprehensive preparatory actions being undertaken by the Headquarters of Eastern Naval Command.

In preparation, the Indian Navy has readied two ships equipped with HADR and medical supplies for immediate deployment to ensure the safety and welfare of the affected populace.

Additionally, Indian Naval aviation assets, including Sea King and Chetak helicopters as well as Dornier aircraft, are on standby for rapid response, the Navy said.

Specialised diving teams with equipment have been stationed in Kolkata to provide prompt assistance. Additionally, diving teams with necessary equipment are on standby in Visakhapatnam, prepared for quick deployment if needed.

Two Flood Relief Teams (FRTs), along with HADR and medical supplies, are being positioned in Kolkata. In addition, two FRTs each from Visakhapatnam and Chilka are ready and on standby for deployment at short notice.

- ANI

Several passengers faced inconvenience as flight operations were suspended at the Kolkata airport for 21 hours in the wake of cyclone Remal.

Passengers complained that the airlines did not inform them about the cancellation of their flights through email or registered phone number. Some of them demanded hotel costs and food allowance from the airline.

Arnab Tarafdar, one of the relatives of the passenger, who had come to the airport to drop off her grandmother, Meera Nandi complained that her grandmother, who is an aged woman, was asked to wait and then informed about the cancellation of her flight.

ANI

As the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning against severe Cyclone Remal which is expected to hit West Bengal on May 26, NDRF Inspector Zaheer Abbas said our team is fully prepared to handle every kind of disaster. 

Speaking to ANI, NDRF Inspector Zaheer Abbas said, “We are fully prepared for the cyclone. If the cyclone hits here, our soldiers are ready to deal with every kind of disaster... Our team is well-equipped. Our team is ready for tree falling or flood rescue etc... We are ready to deal with every situation...”

As cyclone Remal intensifies, Tripura is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the IMD for further developments regarding the cyclonic storm. Given the current situation, all District Magistrates were advised to follow the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD’s) impact-based advisories and take appropriate measures. 

Agartala, West Tripura District Magistrate and Collector, Vishal Kumar on Saturday said that NDRF and other teams are ready given the warning and is preparing to evacuate people from low-lying areas to safe shelters and start providing relief if needed.

ANI

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, an official said.

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 told PTI.

The precautionary measure was taken after a meeting of the stakeholders of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport on Saturday, the official said.