Bhubaneswar/Kolkata: Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Remal’ over coastal Bangladesh and adjoining coastal West Bengal weakened into a Cyclonic Storm after making a landfall between Sagar Islands and Khepupara close to southwest of Mongla with wind speed of 110 to 120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph past midnight, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Monday.
The system is about about 150 km northeast of Sagar Islands (West Bengal), 110 km northwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), 70 km northeast of Canning (West Bengal) and 30km west-southwest of Mongla (Bangladesh). It is likely to initially move north-northeastwards, subsequently northeastwards and gradually weaken further, according to a special bulletin.
Under its influence, Chandbali had received the highest rainfall of 53.6mm followed by Paradip (50.5mm), Balasore (25.2mm) and Puri (23.1mm) between 8.30 am and 10.30pm on Sunday. The weather agency has forecast a gradual rise in the day temperature by 2-3 degree Celsius at many places in the state after 24 hours amid a decrease in rainfall activity with Severe Cyclonic Storm Remal having taken away a lot of moisture. The tropical storm will also enhance flow of dry northerly-northwesterly winds towards the state which will lead to a rise in maximum day temperature, said weather experts.
CYCLONE REMAL IMPACT IN BENGAL
Strong winds and heavy rain pounded the coastal regions of Bangladesh and India as Cyclone Remal’s landfall commenced at 9 pm on Sunday and continued for about five hours, and caused significant damage by destroying fragile homes, uprooting trees, toppling electric poles, waterlogging, flooding of homes and farmlands.
The cyclone caused rainfall and winds in areas such as Digha, Kakdwip and Jaynagar, which intensified on May 27. Coastal Bengal saw gale-force winds of 100-110 kmph on Sunday evening, with similar effects in North Odisha.
According to reports, North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts experienced severe damage. News footage from the coastal town of Digha showed tidal waves crashing into a seawall, with surging waters sweeping fishing boats inland and inundating mud-and-thatch houses and farmlands.
A 51-year-old man died in Kolkata when concrete chunks fell on him during the peak of the storm while another was injured in a wall collapse Bibir Bagan area because of heavy rain. Waterlogging was witnessed in parts of race course area following heavy rain.
Fourteen National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, deployed across districts in south Bengal, including Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Howrah and Hooghly, actively engaged in restoration work with local agencies.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting to review response and preparedness for the cyclonic storm, while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged people to stay safe and remain indoors. The West Bengal government had evacuated more than one lakh people from vulnerable areas ahead of the cyclone’s landfall. It has initiated relief measures, providing food, drinking water and medical assistance to the affected population.
Cyclone Remal, this year’s first cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, also led to suspension of rail and air services in the state.
Fishermen have been advised to stay outside the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea until Monday, May 27.
