Cyclone Remal which hit the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh on Sunday night killed at least six people in West Bengal and ten people In Bangladesh. The Indian state and its neighbour country have suffered extensive damage to infrastructure and property.
The intensity of Cyclone Remal has weakened but its still moving northwards and according to forecasts made by the meteorological department, its impact will be felt by Tripura and Assam.
The authorities in the respective states have taken precautions to deal with the storm amid red alerts issued by the India Meteorological Department.
Cyclone Remal: Death and Destruction In West Bengal
Among the six people who died in West Bengal, was a man who succumbed to his injuries when a wall collapsed due to the relentless downpour on Sunday evening at the Bibir Bagan area of Entally in Central Kolkata.
As per PTI report, an eldery woman in the Mousuni Island near Namkhana adjacent to the Sunderbans delta also succumbed to injuries on Monday morning, following a tree collapse on her hut that resulted in the roof caving in.
Several roofs of thatched huts were blown away, uprooted trees blocked roads in Kolkata as well as in the coastal districts, and electricity poles were knocked down causing significant power disruption in various parts of the state, including in the city’s outskirts due to Cyclone Remal.
While several pockets of Kolkata remained waterlogged on the morning of the first working day of the week, suburban train services from the Sealdah terminal station remained partially suspended for at least three hours, adding to commuters’ woes, before operations limped back to normal.
Around 68 trees were uprooted in Kolkata, with an additional 75 trees downed in the nearby Salt Lake and Rajarhat areas.
The state government has initiated relief operations, providing food, drinking water and medical assistance to the people affected.
The authorities have urged residents to remain indoors and take necessary precaution till the heavy rain persists.
Cyclone Remal: Death And Destruction In Bangladesh
At least ten people were killed and millions were left without power due to severe Cyclone 'Remal'.
In Patuakhali, one person was washed away by a storm surge while returning home to bring his sister and aunt to a shelter.
Another person died in Satkhira after falling as he ran for cover during the storm.
Five people were killed in Barishal, Bhola and Chattogram, Dhaka-based Somoy TV reported.
In Mongla, a trawler sank, leaving two people, including a child, missing.
The rural power authority has cut off electricity to 15 million people in coastal areas to minimise the damage from 'Remal', BD News reported.
The power outages have lasted over 12 hours in some areas, but electricity workers are preparing to restore the connections once the storm subsides.
Cyclone Remal: IMD Issues Alert For Tripura
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued a red alert in two districts - Sepahijala and Gumati - in view of the possible impact of cyclone Remal.
An orange alert has also been sounded in the remaining six districts of the northeastern state which is likely to witness heavy rain and gusty winds as a result of the cyclone.
Director of Indian Meteorological department, Agartala, Partha Roy told PTI, “A red alert has been sounded in Sepahijala and Gumati districts in anticipation of heavy to very heavy rainfall during the day while an orange alert has been sounded in the remaining six districts of the state."
The northeastern state is unlikely to be severely affected by the cyclonic storm as it made landfall in coastal areas of West Bengal and Bangladesh which is far away, he added.
Chief Minister Manik Saha urged people to remain vigilant.
"The state may witness moderate to heavy rainfall due to the cyclonic storm. The state and the district administrations are ready to tackle the situation. I appeal to the people to remain in the highest degree of alertness during the period,” he said in a Facebook post.
Cyclone Remal: Assam Braces For Storm Impact
Several districts of Assam are on high alert in the wake of forecast for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall from Monday under the impact of Cyclone Remal.
The administration has urged people to maintain safety measures, and set up helpline numbers in case of emergency.
The Northeast Frontier Railway, in a release, said 42 trains have been cancelled for two days from Monday.
Several parts of Assam, including Guwahati, received rainfall since late Sunday evening, bringing down soaring mercury levels in the state.
No reports of damage due to the impact of the cyclone have been received yet, official sources said.
"Cyclone Remal can bring inclement weather in parts of Assam. We are taking several precautionary measures," Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on X.
He added that teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are on standby and control rooms are operational, while asking people to cooperate with local administration.
An Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) release said the India Meteorological Department has warned of extremely heavy rainfall over Assam along with other northeastern states on Monday and Tuesday.
A red alert for extremely heavy rainfall has been issued in Chirang, Goalpara, Baksa, Dima Hasao, Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj districts, and an orange alert for Dhubri, South Salmara, Bongaigaon, Bajali, Tamulpur, Barpeta, Nalbari, Morigaon, Nagaon, Hojai and West Karbi Anglong in Assam.
(With PTI inputs)
