Cyclone Remal Highlights: Cyclonic storm hits Bangladesh coast

IMD issues a ‘red alert’ for issued for Chirang, Goalpara, Baksa, Dima Hasao, Cachar, Hailakandi, and Karimganj districts, while an 'orange alert' is in place for Dhubri, South Salmara, Bongaigaon, Bajali, Tamulpur, Barpeta, Nalbari, Morigaon, Nagaon, Hojai, and West Karbi Anglong.

Governor CV Ananda 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: Statement

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.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a meeting to review the preparedness for cyclone Remal, asking the Ministry of Home Affairs to monitor the situation and take a review after the cyclone's landfall to extend necessary assistance for restoration.

During the meeting at his 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence, the prime minister instructed that apart from 12 NDRF teams that have already been deployed in West Bengal and one in Odisha, more teams be kept on standby which can move within one hour, a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

"Reviewed the preparedness in the wake of Cyclone Remal. Took stock of the disaster management infrastructure and other related aspects. I pray for everyone's safety and well-being," Modi said in a post on X.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the disaster response agencies are working on a war footing and people are being evacuated to safer areas in view of cyclonic storm Remal which initiated its landfall process between the coasts of Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal.

Shah also said that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has made adequate deployment to help people affected by the cyclone.

He said the Modi government is committed to achieving minimum casualties in disasters.

"In the wake of the landfall of Cyclone Remal, spoke to concerned officials. Adequate deployment of NDRF has been made in all the areas where the cyclone may have an impact. People are being evacuated to safer areas, and the disaster response agencies are working on a war footing to ensure that lives and properties are protected," Shah wrote on 'X'.

Severe cyclonic storm 'Remal' made landfall in Bangladesh on Sunday night as authorities evacuated over 800,000 people from vulnerable areas of the country's low-lying southwestern coastlines to shelters.

"The cyclone has made landfall and started crossing the West Bengal coast in India through the south-west side of Mongla and Khepupara coast of Bangladesh around 8:30 pm (local time)," a met office spokesman told reporters.

He said the storm approached from Bangladesh's southwestern coastlines and West Bengal's Sagar Island and was proceeding towards the northern direction and was “likely to cross the coastlines in the next five to seven hours".

Over one lakh people have been moved to cyclone shelters by the West Bengal government as Remal, declared a severe cyclonic storm, started making a landfall on Sunday evening between West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts with an intensity of 110 to 120 kmph, gusting to 135 kmph, the Met office said.

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

“In the wake of the landfall of Cyclone Remal, spoke to concerned officials. Adequate deployment of NDRF has been made in all the areas where the cyclone may have an impact. People are being evacuated to safer areas, and the disaster response agencies are working on a war footing to ensure that lives and properties are protected. The Modi government is committed to achieving minimum casualties in disasters,” he said.

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

"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," the Met said.

Gale wind speed reaching 110 to 120 kmph, gusting to 135 kmph, was prevailing along and off West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts and north Bay of Bengal and is likely to continue for the next six hours and decrease thereafter, the Met added.

The landfall of severe cyclonic storm 'Remal' commenced on Sunday evening between West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts with an intensity of 110 to 120 kmph, gusting to 135 kmph, the Met office said.

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

“As you know Cyclone Remal is expected any time. Bulletins are being issued from time to time and the whole of West Bengal is prepared. As far as the Raj Bhavan is concerned, the Raj Bhavan is ready not only by setting up the task force but also willing to receive people if needed and accommodate them. My staff will always be there throughout the night to help you. Feel free to contact them. We will certainly brave the crisis and overcome it,” says West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose.

IMD Alipore has issued Orange alert for Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, East Midnapore, Nadia, North and South 24 parganas districts of West Bengal for the next three hours ahead of landfall of cyclone Remal at Sagar Islands (Sundarbans) on Sunday midnight.

"Rain with one or two intense spells (2-3 cm/hr) with strong surface wind (50-60 Kmph) very likely to occur over Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, East Midnapore, Nadia, North and South 24 Parganas districts. People are advised to take shelter in safe place," IMD Alipore said.

IMD Alipore said that Kolkata has experienced 023.9 mm of rainfall since last 24 hours.

IMD Alipore in a special bulletin said, "The Severe Cyclonic Storm "Remal" (pronounced as "Re-Mal") over the North Bay of Bengal moved nearly northwards, with a speed of 13 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centered at 1430 hrs IST of today, the 26th May, 2024 over the same region near latitude 20.6°N and longitude 89.2°E about 160 km southeast of Sagar Islands (West Bengal), 180 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), 190 km south-southeast of Canning (West Bengal) and 220 km south of Mongla (Bangladesh)."

In anticipation of the landfall of cyclonic storm Remal likely between Bangladesh and the adjoining West Bengal coast on Sunday midnight, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed a total of 14 teams in the state.

These teams are on standby to assist in rescue and relief operations as Remal approaches the region and it is now centred over the Bay of Bengal intensifying into a severe cyclonic storm.

"A total of 14 NDRF teams are deployed in West Bengal to assist in rescue and relief operations considering landfall of cyclonic storm Remal," NDRF said.

The 14 NDRF teams have been deployed to vulnerable areas of nine districts (Hooghly-1, Howrah-1, South 24 Parganas-3, North 24 Parganas-2, Purba Medinipur -2, Paschim Meddanipur-2, Kolkata-1, Murshidabad -1, Nadia-1) of West Bengal.

Landfall process of severe cyclonic storm 'Remal' begins over coastal areas of West Bengal and Bangladesh: IMD

Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim briefs on the measures taken to manage the after-effects of the cyclone.

He says, "We will start clearing the water and making the city normal again as soon as it is completed. Our teams are present in every borough... All pumping stations are on the toe. We will monitor the situation from the control room. I appeal to everyone to keep themselves safe... Dont stay in the homes that are marked dangerous by the NDRF... We are ready with 480 pumps and dumpers..."

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose calls an emergency review meeting on cyclone Remal. Raj Bhavan has 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: Raj Bhavan

Remal, declared a severe cyclonic storm, moved northwards over Bay of Bengal and was likely to intensify and cross between Khepupara in Bangladesh and Sagar Island at the West Bengal coast around midnight on Sunday, the Indian Meteorological Department said in a bulletin in the evening.

Remal was likely to make landfall at Mongla in Bangladesh. Its maximum sustained speed would be 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph, IMD officials in Kolkata said.

Although all political parties had planned rallies and roadshows on Sunday for the seventh and last phase of the Lok Sabha polls at nine constituencies in South and North 24 Parganas districts and Kolkata on June 1, most of these were called off.

The Cyclonic Storm "Remal," currently centred over the Bay of Bengal, has intensified into a Severe Cyclonic Storm.

In response to the impending storm, Babughat ferry services have been suspended until May 27.

As per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Remal is expected to make landfall at midnight today, between Bangladesh and the adjoining West Bengal coasts.

In South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel are making announcements for the people in Uttar Danga as part of their awareness drive ahead of the landfall of Cyclone Remal.

In North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, a NDRF team has been deployed in Hasnabad village in anticipation of Cyclone Remal.

Purba Medinipur, West Bengal: NDRF teams deployed at Digha Beach. NDRF makes announcements requesting people to stay away from the beach.

As per IMD, cyclone 'Remal' is to make landfall today, at midnight between Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts.

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.

"The severe Cyclone Remal has started crossing the Bangladesh coast," Bangladesh Meteorological Department director Azizur Rahman told AFP. "We have so far recorded maximum wind speeds of 90 kilometres (56 miles) per hour, but the wind speed may pick up more pace."

On cyclone 'Remal', IMD scientist Somenath Dutta says, "The severe cyclonic storm Remal over the north Bay of Bengal moved nearly northward with a speed of 16 kilometres per hour during the past 6 hours and it lay centred at 17 30 hours IST today...The landfall process will commence in the next 2-3 hours and the current intensity near the centre in terms of maximum sustained wind is 110 to 120 gusting to 135 kilometers per hour..."

SCS RemaL over North BoB is to move northwards about 130 km E-SE of Sagar Islands (WB), 140 km SW of Khepupara (Bangladesh), 140 km S-SE of Canning (WB), 160 km S-SW of Mongla (B) and cross Bangladesh and adj WB coasts by midnight today as SCS with max wind speed of 110-120 kmph.

Bangladesh and India braced on Sunday for cyclone Remal, the first of the year, as the storm with wind speeds of up to 120 kmh (75 mph) is set to make landfall overnight, India's weather department said.

The Bangladesh weather office raised its storm danger signal to 10, the highest level, for two ports and nine coastal districts, announcing warnings over loudspeakers and starting to evacuate people from coastal areas.

"Nearly 60,000 people have been moved to shelters since morning," Mijanur Rahman, chief of Bangladesh's disaster management team, told Reuters.