Cyclone Remal To Make Landfall In Bengal By Midnight, IMD Issues Warning In These States — Top Points

Cyclone 'Remal' is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm in the next six hours and cross between Bangladesh and adjoining coasts in Bengal around midnight

Clouds hover over 'Muri Ganga' River ahead of the landfall of cyclone 'Remal', in South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal on May 24. ( Image Source :PTI )

Cyclone 'Remal', a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal that intensified into a cyclonic storm on the evening of May 25, is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm in the next six hours, the India Meteorological Department stated on Sunday morning. The cyclone will cross between Bangladesh and the adjoining coasts in West Bengal on Sunday midnight.

The CS "Remal" over North BoB about 290 km S SE of Sagar Islands(WB) 300 km S SW of Khepupara(Bangladesh) and 320 km S SE of Canning (WB). To intensify into a severe cyclonic storm in next 06 hours and cross between Bangladesh and adjoining WB coasts around 26 midnight as SCS

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 26, 2024

The cyclone, which is moving in a northward direction, is expected to cross West Bengal and adjoining coasts in Bangladesh between Sagar Island and Khepupara with a wind speed ranging from 110 to 120 kmph, gusting to 135 kmph, making a landfall today by midnight.

In view of the anticipated cyclone, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) will likely issue a 'great danger' signal number 10 between 12 midnight and 1:00 am today, news agency PTI reported.

Apart from West Bengal and coastal Bangladesh, the northeastern states in India including Tripura will witness heavy rainfall and strong winds due to the cyclone, the weather department stated. 

Here are the latest updates on Cyclone 'Remal'

• Following the forecast of severe weather including torrential rains and strong winds in West Bengal, a crucial meeting was conducted with the concerned authorities to address the safety measures.
• The Kolkata Airport Authority also announced its decision to suspend flight operations from 12:00 IST on Sunday to 9:00 IST on May 27.
• The cyclone, which is the first one over the Bay of Bengal in this pre-monsoon season, is moving in a northward direction.
• IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall at most places in West Bengal with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over Bengal's coastal districts and eastern districts of Gangetic West Bengal near Bangladesh on May 26 and 27.
• The weather department predicted isolated extremely heavy rainfall (≥ 20 cm) over the coastal districts today with peak rainfall activity during Sunday noon to May 27 noon. 
• Other northeastern states including Assam and Meghalaya are likely to receive extremely heavy precipitation. Additionally, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Tripura are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rains on Monday and Tuesday.
• According to IMD, Tripura, Mizoram, and South Manipur on May 26 and Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, and Manipur on May 27 and 28 will likely receive heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places.
• Isolated extremely heavy rainfall (≥ 20 cm) is also likely over Assam, Meghalaya on May 27 and 28, Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday and Mizoram and Tripura on Monday.  
• On Saturday, the weather system was found to be progressing at a speed of 12 kmph over the east-central Bay of Bengal and was located in Bengal at 350 km south-southeast of Sagar Island at 5:30, IMD said.
• At the time of the landfall, a storm surge of up to 1.5 metre is expected to inundate low-lying areas of coastal West Bengal and Bangladesh. 
• The weather department has also warned fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea in the north Bay of Bengal till the morning on May 27.
• In view of the cyclone, a red alert was sounded for Bengal's coastal districts of South and North 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur. Besides these, Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly, are likely to receive extremely heavy rain on Sunday and Monday.
• The coastal regions in Bengal, the South and North 24 Parganas, are to be impacted the most by the cyclone. The wind speeds here can reach from 110 to 120 kmph, gusting to 130 kmph. 
• The other districts will witness wind speeds of 70 to 80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph.
• The coastal districts of Bhadrak, Balasore, and Kendrapara in north Odisha will receive heavy rain on May 26 and 27.
• IMD has also warned of localised flooding and destruction of power and communication lines, vulnerable structures, kutcha roads and crops in southern districts of Bengal.
• After the cyclone passes, an orange alert will likely be in force in the affected districts till May 28 morning, except in Purba Medinipur.
• People living in regions that are likely to be hit by the cyclone have been directed to remain indoors and vacate vulnerable structures.
• The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) also assured that all pre-emptive measures to avoid loss of life or property at sea have been taken.
• Ships and aircraft have been kept at immediate notice to undertake search and rescue missions, ICG said.
• In Odisha, nine disaster relief teams have been kept on standby at Paradip and Gopalpur and also in Bengal's Haldia and Fraserganj.
• India has also informed the Bangladesh Coast Guard authorities to institute necessary preparations for a collective response amid the developing situation.
• Bangladesh, too, has prepared nearly 4,000 shelters with adequate dry food supplies and water ahead of 'Remal's' landfall today.