Cyclone Remal Approaches, Set to Cross Bangladesh and West Bengal Coasts
Desk Report, May 26, 2024: On Saturday evening, the deep depression over the east-central Bay of Bengal intensified into Cyclone Remal. It is projected to cross the Bangladesh and West Bengal coasts by Sunday midnight. The cyclone is expected to move northwards, becoming a severe cyclonic storm by Sunday morning. Wind speeds are anticipated to reach 110-120 kmph, with gusts up to 135 kmph, as it makes landfall between Sagar Island (West Bengal) and Khepupara (Bangladesh).
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a special bulletin on Saturday, reporting the cyclone’s progress. At 1730 hrs IST on May 25, 2024, Cyclone Remal was centered over the north and east-central Bay of Bengal, near latitude 18.8°N and longitude 89.5°E. The cyclone moved northward at a speed of 12 kmph over the past six hours.
An orange alert has been issued for light to moderate rainfall in several districts, including Kolkata, Howrah, Nadia, Jhargram, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, and Purba Medinipur. Heavy to very heavy rain is predicted in these areas, with some regions likely to experience extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 20 cm. Gale-force winds, reaching speeds of 60-70 kmph and gusting up to 80 kmph, are expected from Saturday evening. These winds are anticipated to intensify, reaching 110-120 kmph with gusts up to 135 kmph by Sunday evening.
A red alert has been issued, advising fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea along and off the West Bengal coast and the deep-sea area of the Bay of Bengal until May 27. The IMD has warned of a storm surge approximately one meter above the astronomical tide, likely to inundate low-lying coastal areas at landfall. There is a risk of damage to thatched houses, breaking of tree branches, and uprooting of trees.
In preparation, nine disaster relief teams from the Indian Coast Guard are on standby at Haldia, Paradip, Gopalpur, and Fraserganj. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 12 teams across the coastal areas of West Bengal.
Despite the weather conditions, elections proceeded smoothly on Saturday across five districts in West Bengal. However, elections scheduled for June 1 in Kolkata and the coastal Sundarbans have prompted heightened alertness from the West Bengal government. Coastal areas in South 24 Parganas, including Sagar, Kakdwip, and Namkhana, are on high alert, and district officials convened a meeting to discuss emergency measures.
Tourism activities in South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, and Purba Medinipur have been suspended. Evacuations of people from low-lying coastal areas are underway. The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata has announced a suspension of all cargo and container handling operations for 12 hours from Sunday evening due to the cyclone forecast. Authorities at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata also held a meeting to prepare for the impending storm.
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