A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into Cyclone Remal, set to turn severe before making landfall between the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh on Sunday night, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The cyclone is forecast to cross the West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh coasts with wind speeds of 110 to 120 kmph, gusting to 135 kmph, by midnight on Sunday.
The IMD predicts significant impacts on West Bengal, coastal Bangladesh, Tripura, and parts of northeastern states due to heavy rainfall and strong winds. Key updates on Cyclone Remal include:
- Formation initiated by a low-pressure system over the southwest and west-central Bay of Bengal.
- Continued strengthening, posing threats of heavy rainfall, strong winds, and storm surges.
- Ongoing warning in effect until May 28, with potential for extension.
- Extremely heavy rainfall expected in coastal districts of West Bengal and heavy to very heavy rainfall in north Odisha on May 26 and 27.
- ‘Orange’ alerts issued for Tripura from May 26 to 28, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, squally winds, and heavy to extremely heavy rainfall.
- National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams fully prepared for disaster response.
- Kolkata airport suspending flight operations for 21 hours from May 26 to 27, citing predicted heavy winds and rainfall.
- Suspension of several local trains in Sealdah and Howrah divisions.
- Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata to suspend cargo handling operations for 12 hours from Sunday evening.
- Evacuation efforts initiated by West Bengal officials from coastal and vulnerable areas.
Cyclone ‘Remal’ marks the first cyclone in the Bay of Bengal in this pre-monsoon season and is named meaning ‘sand’ in Arabic, following the naming convention for cyclones in the Indian Ocean region.