West Bengal Disaster Management personnel are making announcements on the beach as a precautionary measure ahead of Cyclone Remal’s landfall.
Cyclone Remal, forming in the Bay of Bengal, has intensified into a “severe” cyclonic storm, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday.
A “severe” cyclonic storm is characterized by wind speeds of 85-95 km/hr. “Cyclone Remal lay over the north Bay of Bengal and will move northwards and intensify further,” the IMD stated in its cyclone bulletin.
The cyclone is predicted to make landfall around Sunday midnight between Sagar islands and Khepupara, as warned by the Met department. Consequently, flight operations at Kolkata airport remain suspended until 9 am on Monday. The Kolkata Airport Authority confirmed the suspension of 394 flights, including domestic and international departures and arrivals, from Sunday noon to Monday 9 am, citing the anticipated impact of Cyclone Remal on the region.
Several trains operating between Howrah and Singur, originating from Howrah and Bandel in the Howrah division, will be suspended until Sunday midnight, announced the Eastern Railways.
This marks the second consecutive cyclone to impact Bangladesh following Cyclone Mocha, which caused significant damage in the neighboring country last May.
In addition to heavy rainfall and gale-force winds, the IMD has indicated that a storm surge of about one meter above the astronomical tide could inundate low-lying areas in Sagar islands, Khepupara, and adjacent areas when the cyclone crosses over land.
According to the latest update, Remal was positioned 290 km south-southwest of Khepupara, 330 km south of Mongla in Bangladesh, and 270 km south-southeast of Sagar islands in West Bengal.
The cyclone is expected to bring extremely heavy rainfall (over 200 mm) and impact the districts of North and South 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur, Howrah, and Hooghly in West Bengal until Monday.