Severe cyclonic storm Remal wreaked havoc as it made landfall between the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh, unleashing winds with speeds reaching up to 135 kmph. The storm struck between Sagar Island and Khepupara near the southwest of Mongla in Bangladesh at 8:30 pm on Sunday, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Torrential rains flooded homes and farmlands, causing widespread devastation.
Casualties Reported
In Bangladesh, two casualties have been reported since the cyclone made landfall last night, according to officials from the country’s disaster ministry. However, West Bengal has reported no casualties so far.
Precautionary Measures and Alerts
Ahead of the storm, disaster management authorities and security forces across Bengal and northeastern states were placed on high alert. District administrations in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram were instructed to take precautionary measures to mitigate the impact.
Transportation Disruptions
Cyclone Remal severely disrupted air, rail, and road transportation in Kolkata and southern Bengal. The Eastern and South Eastern Railways cancelled several trains, while the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata suspended flight operations for 21 hours, affecting 394 flights. The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata also halted operations.
Damage Assessment
Reports from affected areas indicated extensive damage to infrastructure, with Bibir Bagan area witnessing a wall collapse due to heavy rain, injuring one person. North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts reported damage to thatched roofs, electric poles, and trees. Low-lying areas near Kolkata experienced severe flooding.
Warnings and Advisories
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) issued warnings of extremely heavy rainfall across Assam and other northeastern states on May 27 and 28. Orange and Red alerts were issued for various districts, anticipating severe weather conditions. Meghalaya government advised residents to prepare emergency kits and avoid unnecessary travel. Tripura’s government closed all educational institutions and suspended flight operations on the Kolkata-Agartala route.
Evacuations and Relief Efforts
In anticipation of the cyclone’s impact, over one lakh people were evacuated from vulnerable areas in West Bengal, particularly focusing on South 24 Parganas, Sundarbans, and Kakdwip. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) mobilized 15,000 civic employees to manage post-cyclone recovery efforts, including the removal of uprooted trees.
