Severe cyclonic storm Remal made landfall between the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh, unleashing winds up to 135 kmph. The storm, which struck between Sagar Island and Khepupara near the southwest of Mongla in Bangladesh at 8:30 pm on Sunday, brought torrential rains, flooding homes and farmlands, leaving widespread destruction in its wake.
Two people were killed in Bangladesh since the cyclone made landfall last night, said an official from the country’s disaster ministry. West Bengal has reported no casualty so far.
Cyclone Remal disrupted air, rail, and road transportation in Kolkata and southern Bengal. The Eastern and South Eastern Railways cancelled several trains, and the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata suspended flight operations for 21 hours, affecting 394 flights. The airport resumed operations at 9 am today. The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata also halted operations.
In the city’s Bibir Bagan area, a wall collapsed due to heavy rain injuring one person. Reports from North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts indicated extensive damage to thatched roofs, electric poles, and trees. Low-lying areas near Kolkata experienced severe flooding.
Cyclone Remal damaged fragile dwellings, uprooted trees, and toppled electric poles. In the Sundarbans’ Gosaba area, one person was injured by debris. Over one lakh people were evacuated from vulnerable areas in West Bengal before the cyclone struck.
The West Bengal government evacuated approximately 1.10 lakh people from coastal and vulnerable regions to cyclone shelters and other safe locations. Evacuations focused on South 24 Parganas, particularly Sagar Island, Sundarbans, and Kakdwip.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has mobilised 15,000 civic employees to manage post-cyclone recovery, including the quick removal of uprooted trees.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted intensifying rains and winds in southern Bengal districts. Fourteen National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed across affected districts, including Kolkata. The state government also readied State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams for relief efforts.
Nine disaster relief teams are on standby. The Indian Navy has prepared two ships with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) supplies and medical aid. Specialised diving and flood relief teams are also on standby.
