A day after striking West Bengal, Cyclone Remal weakened to a cyclonic storm on Monday morning, with winds of 80-90 km/h, according to the Meteorological Department.
This pre-monsoon season's first Bay of Bengal storm made landfall around 8:30 pm on Sunday, continuing for four hours. The storm is expected to move northeast and weaken further.
The Met department forecasts more rain in Kolkata and southern districts like Nadia and Murshidabad, with heavy downpours and gusty winds until Tuesday morning.
By 5:30 am, Remal was 150 km northeast of Sagar Island, having caused overnight rain in Kolkata and coastal areas. Kolkata airport has resumed operations after a temporary shutdown.
1. Cyclone 'Remal' Impact:
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Fatalities: The death toll from cyclone Remal rose to two, with a recent casualty reported from Mousuni Island in Sundarbans. An elderly woman lost her life when a tree collapsed onto her house during the cyclone's landfall.
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Destruction: Cyclone Remal, categorized as severe, struck Bangladesh and adjacent West Bengal coasts, causing widespread devastation. Two fatalities were recorded, and approximately 200,000 individuals were displaced across three coastal districts in West Bengal.
2. Landfall and Coastal Devastation:
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Location: Cyclone Remal made landfall between Sagar Island in West Bengal and Khepupara, near Mongla in Bangladesh.
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Impact: Thick sheets of rain obscured the vast coastline during landfall, resulting in flooding and damage to fishing boats, mud-and-thatch houses, and farmlands in low-lying areas.
3. Cyclone's Path and Damage:
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Path: Remal traversed West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts, affecting areas between Sagar Island and Khepupara.
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Impact: The cyclone brought heavy rains and winds up to 135 km/h, causing extensive damage, including waterlogging and property destruction along West Bengal's coastal regions.
4. Bengal's Aftermath:
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Damage: Roofs of thatched huts were blown away, trees uprooted, and electric poles toppled, disrupting normal life across Bengal, including Kolkata.
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Disruption: Social media circulated visuals of inundated roads and significant structural damage post-cyclone.
5. Evacuation Efforts and Affected Areas:
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Precautionary Measures: Over one lakh people were evacuated from vulnerable areas, with a focus on South 24 Parganas district, Sundarbans, and Kakdwip.
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Impact Zone: Remal caused devastation in North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts, necessitating extensive relief measures.
6. Transportation Disruptions:
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Service Disruptions: Air, rail, and road transportation in Kolkata and southern Bengal faced significant disruptions. Flight operations were suspended at Kolkata airport, and train services were partially halted.
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Rail Services: Train services were canceled in coastal districts as a safety measure, affecting both suburban and long-distance routes.
7. Government Response and Monitoring:
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Control Rooms: The West Bengal government established a 24x7 control room at Nabanna and another in Sundarbans to coordinate relief efforts with various agencies.
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Collaboration: Collaboration with police, disaster management teams, and emergency response forces was prioritized for efficient assistance delivery.
8. Sheltering and NDRF Deployment:
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Evacuation and Relief: Over one lakh individuals were evacuated, and relief measures, including food and medical aid, were initiated. NDRF teams were deployed across affected districts.
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Evacuation and Assistance: West Bengal relocated vulnerable populations to cyclone shelters, supported by deployed NDRF teams and standby forces.
9. Central and State Coordination:
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PM's meeting: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a review meeting, instructing additional NDRF teams to be on standby for rapid deployment.
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PM's Directives: PM Modi monitored the situation closely, directing additional resources for emergency response. State officials maintained coordination for effective management.
10. Safety Precautions and Warnings:
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Public Safety: Authorities urged residents to stay indoors and take necessary precautions amid heavy rainfall.
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Assurance: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reassured the public, emphasizing that the situation would improve.
11. Kolkata Police's Response:
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Unified Command Center: Kolkata Police established a central command center, integrating various agencies for efficient disaster response.
12. Meteorological Updates:
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Weather Conditions: Coastal Bengal experienced gale-force winds, while parts of Odisha witnessed similar effects, with forecasts indicating intensified winds.
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Rainfall Warning: Heavy rainfall warnings were issued for West Bengal and northeastern states, urging fishermen to avoid venturing into sea zones.
बंगाल की खाड़ी में चक्रवात रेमल.#CycloneRemal pic.twitter.com/VYf2dLxVYi— Ankit Kumar Avasthi (@kaankit) May 27, 2024
13. Tripura Alerts:
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Preventive Measures: IMD issued alerts for Tripura, with specific districts on red and orange alerts based on expected rainfall and wind intensity.
Update #CycloneRemal
NDRF is closely monitoring the post landfall situation in West Bengal. 14 Rescue Teams deployed across the State now actively engaged in restoration work with local agencies. @PMOIndia@HMOIndia @BhallaAjay26 @PIBKolkata@PIBHomeAffairs @PIB_India @ANI pic.twitter.com/ZiPF66H2jr— NDRF 🇮🇳 (@NDRFHQ) May 27, 2024
14. Post-Cyclone Incidents:
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Urban Disruptions: Reports indicated numerous uprooted trees in Kolkata and adjacent areas, highlighting the urban impact of the cyclone.
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Cleanup Operations: Municipal and police teams actively worked to clear roads of uprooted trees and debris, aiming to restore normalcy.
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Urban Flooding: Kolkata witnessed inundation in low-lying areas, leading to injuries and structural damage, such as collapsing walls due to heavy rainfall.
15. Bangladesh Casualties:
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Human Toll: Bangladesh reported seven fatalities and widespread power outages due to Remal's devastating impact on coastal regions.
16. Emergency Contacts:
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Helpline Availability: City police and state authorities provided helpline numbers for citizens to seek assistance and support during the crisis.
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City Police Helpline Announcements
- Landline numbers 033-2214-3024 and 033-2214-3230.
- Helpline numbers 9432610428 and 94326104290.
- State secretariat helpline numbers 1070 and (033)-22143526.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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