New Delhi: As the severe cyclonic storm ‘Remal’ made landfall between Bangladesh and the adjoining West Bengal coast, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) announced on Monday that it is closely monitoring the situation. Disaster response teams, ships, and hovercraft are on standby to respond to post-impact challenges.
The ICG urged the public to follow official advisories, stay informed, and stay safe. “Update cyclone #Remal: @IndiaCoastGuard is closely monitoring the landfall of cyclone #Remal with the disaster response team, ships, and hovercraft on standby at short notice to respond to post-impact challenges. Follow official advisories, stay informed, and stay safe,” the ICG posted on X.
Following the cyclone’s landfall, waterlogging was reported in parts of Kolkata due to heavy rain. Visuals from the Race Course area showed people and vehicles navigating waterlogged roads. Additionally, several trees were uprooted in Kolkata’s Alipore area as gusty winds and heavy rain lashed the region.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that the storm ‘Remal’ would continue moving northward for a while before turning north-northeastward and gradually weakening into a cyclonic storm. The cyclone moved northwards and crossed the Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Islands and Khepupara, close to the southwest of Mongla.
“The Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Remal’ over the North Bay of Bengal moved nearly northwards, with a speed of 13 kmph during the past 6 hours, crossed Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Islands and Khepupara close to southwest of Mongla near Latitude 21.75°N and Longitude 89.2°E between 22:30 hrs IST of 26th May to 00:30 hrs IST of 27th May 2024 as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with wind speed of 110 to 120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph,” said IMD in a post on X. “It lay centred at 01:30 hrs IST of today, 27th May, 2024 over Coastal Bangladesh and adjoining Coastal West Bengal, near latitude 21.9°N and longitude 89.2°E, about 115 km east of Sagar Islands (West Bengal), 105 km west-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), 70 km southeast of Canning (West Bengal) and 50 km south-southwest of Mongla (Bangladesh). The system would continue to move nearly northwards for some more time and then north-northeastwards and weaken gradually into a Cyclonic Storm by morning of 27,” added the post.
The Kolkata Municipality and Kolkata Police Disaster Management teams are actively engaged in clearing uprooted trees in the city.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting on Sunday to review preparedness for the cyclone. He instructed the Union Home Ministry to monitor the situation and conduct 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 directed that, in addition to the 12 National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) teams already deployed in West Bengal and one in Odisha, more teams be kept on standby to move within an hour, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
