⦿ Rainfall lashes West Bengal's Digha as Cyclone Remal makes landfall.
⦿ “Our state and district emergency operation centres will function 24/7. The cyclone is turning into a severe cyclonic storm. Schools and educational centres will remain closed on May 27 and 28,” says Tripura Disaster Management Authority Secretary Brijesh Pandey
⦿ Bengal government evacuates around 1.10 lakh people from coastal regions, including the Sundarbans and Sagar Island, to secure shelters
⦿ Wind speeds are expected to range between 110 and 120 km per hour and gusts can reach up to 135 kmph..
⦿ A 'red alert' has been issued for extremely heavy rainfall in seven districts of Assam, and an 'orange alert' in 11 districts, according to an official release
⦿ Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting earlier this evening to check the preparedness for Cyclone Remal
⦿ Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose to remain awake overnight to monitor cyclone situation, says official
⦿ Coastal districts are expected to experience extremely heavy rainfall, while Kolkata and its surroundings may encounter heavy to very heavy rainfall
⦿ The landfall process has commenced over coastal areas of Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal. It will continue for next 4 hours
The landfall of severe cyclone Remal has begun, according to the Met department, leading to significant disruptions in air, rail, and road transportation in Calcutta and other parts of South Bengal, with concerns expected to continue into Monday.
As a precaution, Calcutta airport authorities have suspended flight operations for 21 hours from Sunday noon. Additionally, the Eastern and South Eastern railways cancelled several trains.
Intermittent showers and gusty winds affected South Bengal districts from Sunday morning, leading to a noticeable absence of buses, taxis, and three-wheelers on the roads in Kolkata and district towns.
Disruptions in road and rail transport are anticipated on Monday, due to the effects of the cyclone's landfall, expected by midnight on Sunday.
A total of 394 flights — both international and domestic — will not operate during the flight suspension period, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) official said. This precautionary measure was taken after a meeting with stakeholders of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport, the official added.
"In view of Cyclone Remal's impact on the coastal region of West Bengal, including Kolkata, a meeting was held with stakeholders, and it was decided to suspend flight operations from noon on May 26 to 9 am on May 27 due to predicted heavy winds and heavy to very heavy rainfall in Kolkata," NSCBI airport director C Pattabhi said in a statement on Saturday.
The cyclonic storm is expected to make landfall by midnight on Sunday along the adjoining coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh, with wind speeds of 110-120 km per hour, gusting up to 135 kmph. The Met Office has warned of extremely heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of West Bengal on May 26-27.
The Eastern and South Eastern railways canceled some trains on routes to and from the coastal South and North 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur districts as a precautionary measure, officials said.
The Eastern Railway suspended train services in the Sealdah South section and Barasat-Hasnabad section of Sealdah division from 11 pm on Sunday to 6 am on Monday, cancelling several EMU local trains, an official said.
While five suburban trains were cancelled on Sunday, eight local trains will not operate on Monday morning, the Eastern Railway official said.
The South Eastern Railway cancelled the Howrah-Digha-Howrah Kandari Express on Sunday and some MEMU and EMU services to and from the seaside tourist town of Digha on Sunday and Monday, a zonal railway official said.
