Cyclone Remal Highlights: 6 killed, 29,000 houses damaged in Bengal's coastal areas

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: Six persons — one in Kolkata, two women in South 24 Parganas district, one in Panihati in North 24 Parganas district and a father-son duo in Memari in Purba Medinipur — lost their lives due to the cyclone.

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: Affected areas included Kakdwip, Namkhana, Sagard Island, Diamond Harbour, Fraserganj, Bakkhali and Mandarmani.

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: over 2,140 trees were uprooted, and about 1,700 electric poles fell in various parts of West Bengal

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: Nearly 29,500 houses in 24 blocks and 79 municipal wards, mostly in the south coastal areas of West Bengal, were partially or entirely damaged by Cyclone Remal, reported PTI quoting West Bengal government official.

"Severe Cyclone is slowly going towards North, North-East and getting weak. It converted into cyclonic storm this morning. In the forenoon, it is centred around 24 km from Bangladesh's Mangla. Its centre is located 90 km away from Kolkata in east direction. It is progressing towards Assam and Meghalaya. The adverse weather will continue to normalise in West Bengal. The wind speed is 70-80 kmph, it will reduce to 50-70 kmph by evening and 40-50 kmph by night. There would not be much impact afterwards. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected only today in eastern districts of WB. There is no forecast of extreme rainfall today. It will reduce tomorrow."

At least two persons died in West Bengal and its coastal areas suffered extensive damage to infrastructure and property, as Cyclone Remal tore through the state and neighbouring Bangladesh with winds speeds reaching 135 km per hour, officials said Monday.

As reported by PTI, a man died of his injuries when a wall collapsed due to the relentless downpour on Sunday evening at the Bibir Bagan area of Entally in Central Kolkata, a state disaster management official said.

An eldery woman in the Mousuni Island near Namkhana adjacent to the Sunderbans delta also succumbed to injuries on Monday morning, following a tree collapse on her hut that resulted in the roof caving in, the official said. (PTI)

Three persons were injured and vehicular movement was disrupted as trees lay uprooted in several parts of Kolkata in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal, which made landfall in West Bengal and neighbouring Bangladesh, officials said on Monday.

Reports of uprooting of trees have been received from Southern Avenue, Lake Place, Chetla, D L Khan Road, Dufferin Road, Ballygunge Road, New Alipore, Behala, Jadavpur, Golpark, Hatibagan, Jagat Mukherjee Park and College Street, as well as the city’s adjoining Salt Lake area, they said. (PTI)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that severe cyclonic storm Remal has weakened into a cyclonic storm in the early hours of Monday, and is expected to gradually weaken further.

"Severe Cyclonic Storm Remal over Coastal Bangladesh and adjoining Coastal West Bengal weakened into Cyclonic Storm at 0530hrs of the 27 May about 70km northeast of Canning and 30km west-southwest of Mongla. The system is likely to gradually weaken further," IMD posted on X.

The Cyclonic Storm 'Remal' over Coastal Bangladesh and adjoining Coastal West Bengal moved nearly northwards, with a speed of 15 kmph during the past 6 hours and lay centered at 0830 hrs IST of today over the same region: IMD

On the impact of cyclone 'Remal' on Railways, CPRO Eastern Railway, Kaushik Mitra says, "...Fortunately the cyclone did not affect the railways. Normal services underway in Howrah, Asansol and Malda divisions since last night. No train has been cancelled...We have faced some problems in the Sealdah division, but our officials have worked through the night and restoration work is in full swing..."

“Flight operations resumed at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata at 0859 hrs, after it was closed for flight operation yesterday in view of the #CycloneRemal,” Kolkata airport said in a post on X.

Several districts of Assam are on high alert in the wake of forecast for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall from Monday under the impact of Cyclone Remal, which made landfall in neighbouring West Bengal and Bangladesh.

The administration has urged people to maintain safety measures, and set up helpline numbers in case of emergency.

The Northeast Frontier Railway, in a release, said 42 trains have been cancelled for two days from Monday. (PTI)

Fierce gales and crashing waves smashed into the low-lying coast of Bangladesh and India on Monday, as an intense cyclone started to weaken as it progressed deeper inland, AFP reported.

Two people have been killed since Cyclone Remal made landfall on Sunday night, Kamrul Hasan, secretary of Bangladesh's disaster management ministry, told AFP.  

Severe cyclonic storm ‘Remal’ made landfall between the coasts of Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal around 8:30 pm on Sunday. The cyclone brought with it heavy rains that flooded homes and farmland, and left a trail of destruction. Read here.

Severe Cyclonic Storm Remal over Coastal Bangladesh and adjoining Coastal West Bengal weakened into Cyclonic Storm at 0530hrs of the 27 May about 70km northeast of Canning and 30km westsouthwest of Mongla. The system is likely to gradually weaken further: IMD

As the severe cyclonic storm 'Remal' makes landfall between Bangladesh and the adjoining West Bengal coast, the Indian Coast Guard said on Monday that it is closely monitoring the landfall of the cyclone with a disaster response team, ships, and hovercraft on standby at short notice to respond to post-impact challenges.

The ICG further asked the people 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 standby at short notice to respond to post-impact challenges. Follow official advisories, Stay informed, and stay safe," the ICG posted on X. (ANI)

Widespread devastation is visible across coastal areas of West Bengal on Monday, a day after severe cyclonic storm 'Remal' made landfall packing winds up to 135 kilometres per hour.

The cyclone ravaged adjacent coasts of the state and Bangladesh between Sagar Island and Khepupara, near the southwest of Mongla in the neighbouring country, after its landfall process began at 8.30 pm on Sunday, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and property.

'Remal' left a trail of destruction in its wake. Roofs of thatched huts were blown away, trees uprooted and electric poles knocked down, causing significant disruption in various parts of the state, including Kolkata. (ANI)

The Indian Coast Guard is closely monitoring the landfall of cyclone Remal with a disaster response team, ships and hovercraft on standby at short notice to respond to post-impact challenges.

The Severe Cyclonic Storm 'Remal' crossed the 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: IMD

As severe cyclonic storm 'Remal' makes landfall between Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coast, Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha said that state and district administrations are fully prepared to deal with the cyclone and urged people of the state to exercise "utmost caution."

In a post on X, Saha on Sunday said," Dear Tripura residents, You are aware that under the influence of Cyclone 'Remal', moderate to heavy rainfall with gale force winds is expected in various districts of the state. State and district administrations are fully prepared to deal with this calamity. I appeal to the people of the state to exercise utmost caution."

Ahead of this, the Tripura government on Sunday also issued a red alert in four districts: South, Dhalai, Khowai, and West in the wake of severe cyclonic storm 'Remal'.

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged people to stay at home.

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that in the wake of the landfall of Cyclone Remal, he has spoken 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,” said Shah in a post on X.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose held a review meeting and said that Bengal is prepared to face this crisis with confidence and courage. “This is not the first time that Bengal is facing a similar crisis. We will certainly brave this storm confidently, effectively, and proactively. A task force has been set up...”

Cyclone Remal over the North Bay of Bengal is to move northwards about 130 km southeast of Sagar Islands (WB), 140 km southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), 140 km southeast of Canning (WB), 160 km southwest of Mongla of Bangladesh and cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts by midnight today with a max wind speed of 110-120 kmph: IMD

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: Landfall process has commenced over coastal areas of Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal. It will continue for the next 4 hours: IMD

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: 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, says PM Modi in a post on X.

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim listed the measures taken to manage the after-effects of the cyclone.  He said that they will start clearing the water and making the city normal again as soon as it is completed. “All pumping stations are on the toe,” he added.

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: The severe Cyclone Remal has started crossing the Bangladesh coast, reported AFP quoting Bangladesh Meteorological Department Director Azizur Rahman. 

He said that the raging storm could continue hammering the coast until at least the early hours of Monday morning.

"We have so far recorded maximum wind speeds of 90 kilometres (56 miles) per hour, but the wind speed may pick up more pace," he added.

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose chaired 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, said Raj Bhavan.

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: Over 800,000 people from vulnerable areas have been evacuated to shelters. "We have taken all necessary measures on an urgent basis to tackle the severe cyclonic storm...all relevant organisations have been asked to work in a coordinated manner to face the cyclone,” said State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibur Rahman.

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: NDRF teams deployed at Digha Beach make announcements requesting people to stay away from the beach.

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: A total of 14 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are deployed in West Bengal to assist in rescue and relief operations considering the landfall of cyclonic storm Remal: NDRF

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: Approximately 15,000 civic employees in Kolkata have been mobilised to address post-cyclone scenarios.

"We are apprehensive as this storm is expected to impact Kolkata. As per the latest information from the Meteorological Office, the storm is anticipated to bring winds of 60 to 80 kmph," Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim said.

The West Bengal government has evacuated approximately 1.10 lakh people from coastal regions, including the Sundarbans and Sagar Island, to secure shelters, PTI quoted senior official as saying.

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: Eastern Railway has opened helpline numbers at Howrah and Sealdah as Remal is expected to build into an intense cyclonic storm on Sunday.

Helpline Numbers issued at Sealdah: 033-23508794 (DOT) & 033- 23833326 (Auto Phone)

Helpline Number issued at Howrah: 033-26413660 (DOT).

"It is very likely to continue to move nearly northwards, intensify further and cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara, close to southwest of Mongla (Bangladesh) by midnight of today, May 26, as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph," IMD said in a press release.

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: PM Narendra Modi chairs a meeting to review response and preparedness for Cyclone Remal

As a precaution, Kolkata airport authorities have suspended flight operations for 21 hours from Sunday noon. Additionally, the Eastern and South Eastern railways cancelled several trains.

A total of 394 flights — both international and domestic — will not operate during the flight suspension period, reported PTI quoting an Airports Authority of India (AAI) official said.

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: The Met department has issued heavy rainfall warning for four districts of Odisha in the wake of Cyclone Remal approaching the coast.

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Satyabrata Sahu reviewed the preparations made by the collectors of the four districts in view of the warning, officials said.

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose said he is closely monitoring the situation and is in constant touch with state and central experts to ensure a coordinated response to counter it.

Bose emphasised the importance of safety for residents in the coastal regions of Bengal, urging them to adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for cyclones.