Cyclone Remal highlights: Severe storm claimed 6 lives in Bengal, will visit affected areas soon, says Mamata

NDRF carried out relief operations in West Bengal and cleared uprooted trees in the Hasnabad & Hingalganj area of Basirhat affected by Cyclone Remal in North 24 Parganas.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday expressed concern regarding the impact of severe cyclone Remal in the state, emphasising that the relatively lower loss of lives amidst the calamity was largely attributable to the precautionary measures enforced by the administration. With five recorded deaths, one in the city and the remaining in districts, Banerjee underscored the necessity of immediate compensation for affected families, while assuring that the administration would adhere to legal protocols in distributing aid for crop and property damages.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said severe cyclone Remal has claimed three lives in the state and assured the people that the administration is fully committed to supporting those affected by the natural disaster. "I've been closely monitoring the situation since yesterday. Three of our fellow citizens have tragically lost their lives in this cyclone. My heartfelt condolences go out to their families," she said at an election rally at Burrabazar here.

Heavy rain lashed Tripura on Monday under the influence of cyclonic storm Remal while 11 flights were cancelled from Agartala airport due to bad weather, officials said. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert in two districts – Sepahijala and Gumati – and an orange alert in the remaining six districts in view of the possible impact of cyclone Remal, they said. "Tripura received average rainfall of 40. 73 mm on Monday with West Tripura district recording the highest of 59. 50 mm. There is no report of any substantial damage or loss of life from any district except uprooting of trees and blockade of roads," said an official of the Revenue department.

Cyclone Remal, which made landfall on the coasts of West Bengal last night (May 26), has raised water levels in the surrounding region. Visuals of water entering the areas around the Gangasagar river embarkment.

Nearly 15,000 houses in 24 blocks and 79 municipal wards, mostly in the southern coastal areas of West Bengal, were affected by Cyclone Remal, a senior official of the state government said on Monday. At least 2,140 trees were uprooted in different parts of the state which also witnessed the falling of 337 electric poles, he added. According to the initial evaluation, at least 14,941 houses were damaged, out of which 13,938 were partially affected while 1,003 were destroyed, he said.

The West Bengal government had evacuated around 1.10 lakh people from coastal and vulnerable areas and shifted them to cyclone shelters, schools, and colleges, said the officials

Heavy rain and gusty winds lashed several parts of West Bengal as Cyclone 'Remal' made landfall.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday expressed deep concern over the impact of Cyclone Remal in Sundarbans and other coastal areas of the state as she took stock of the situation, an official said.

She spoke with Chief Secretary B P Gopalika to assess the extent of devastation caused by the cyclone and the measures being taken to address the aftermath. "The CM spoke to the chief secretary over the phone and enquired about the number of lives lost and injured as a result of Cyclone Remal. She also enquired about the extent of damage, including uprooted electric poles and trees, and the progress of restoration efforts," the official told PTI.

(Input: PTI)

At least two persons died in West Bengal and its coastal areas suffered extensive damage to infrastructure and property, as Cyclone Remal tore through the state and neighbouring Bangladesh with winds speeds reaching 135 km per hour.

A man died of his injuries when a wall collapsed due to the relentless downpour on Sunday evening at the Bibir Bagan area of Entally in Central Kolkata, a state disaster management official said. 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, the official said.

(Input: PTI)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has 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.

“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”, Director of Indian Meteorological department, Agartala, Partha Roy told PTI.

(Input: PTI)

Operations of the Kolkata Metro were disrupted between Girish Park and Mahanayak Uttam Kumar stations, due to waterlogging on the tracks at Park Street and Esplanade stations, an official said. Metro services are normal from Dakshineswar to Girish Park and from Kabi Subhas to Mahanayak Uttam Kumar, he said. Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said the municipal corporation was trying to address the situation on war footing.

(Input: PTI)

Reports of uprooting of trees have been received from Southern Avenue, Lake Place, Chetla, D L Khan Road, Dufferin Road, Ballygunge Road, New Alipore, Behala, Jadavpur, Golpark, Hatibagan, Jagat Mukherjee Park and College Street, as well as the city’s adjoining Salt Lake area.

Around 68 trees were uprooted in Kolkata, and another 75 in nearby Salt Lake and Rajarhat area.

Three persons were injured and vehicular movement was disrupted as trees lay uprooted in several parts of Kolkata in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal, which made landfall in West Bengal and neighbouring Bangladesh.

Roads being cleared after trees uprooted amid the heavy downpour and strong winds, in South 24-Parganas.

 Heavy rains cause waterlogging at Chittaranjan Avenue (C.R. Avenue) area in Kolkata, West Bengal.  

Roads are inundated in Shakespeare Sarani and Camac ST of Kolkata. The Kolkata Police along with Kolkata Municipal Corporation are clearing the uprooted trees from streets for commuters.  

Visuals of water level rising and cloudy weather from Digha Sea Beach in West Bengal. 

Several trees uprooted in Sundarbans, South 24 Parganas.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose said, "Raj Bhavan task force has just returned from the field visit. we are all greatly relieved that no reported casualty is there. Remal cyclone is weakening and the people of Bengal have been able to brave it with fortitude and courage. We are watching in case there is any need for any help. Raj Bhavan task force is ready... I thank the entire people of West Bengal for the solidarity which they have expressed."

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose with Raj Bhavan task force on the field visit after cyclone Remal made a landfall yesterday night.

NDRF team clears road after tree uprooted near Sagar Island amid heavy rain and gusty winds.  

Morning visuals from Tajpur after cyclone Remal made landfall yesterday night.

Morning visuals from Sunderban after cyclone Remal made landfall yesterday night.

On the impact of cyclone 'Remal' on Railways, CPRO Eastern Railway, Kaushik Mitra said, "...Fortunately the cyclone did not affect the railways. Normal services underway in Howrah, Asansol and Malda divisions since last night. No train has been cancelled...We have faced some problems in the Sealdah division, but our officials have worked through the night and restoration work is in full swing..."

Several districts of Assam are on high alert in the wake of the forecast for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall from Monday under the impact of Cyclone Remal, which made landfall in neighbouring West Bengal and Bangladesh. Several parts of Assam, including Guwahati, received rainfall since late Sunday evening, bringing down soaring mercury levels in the state.

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.

No reports of damage due to the impact of the cyclone have been received yet, official sources said.

 Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Cyclone Remal can bring inclement weather in parts of Assam. We are taking several precautionary measures. NDRF & SDRF teams are on standby, control rooms are operational and we are deploying a whole of government approach to keep our citizens safe. Stay safe and please cooperate with your local administration."

Flights services from the Kolkata airport resumed on Tuesday after remaining suspended for 21 hours in view of the cyclone Remal, an official said on Monday. The first plane to depart on Monday was IndiGo’s Kolkata-Port Blair flight at 8.59 am, while the first one to land in Kolkata was SpiceJet’s flight from Guwahati. It landed at 09.50 am, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) top official said.

Though the process of resuming flight operations has begun, it will take some more time for the situation to become normal, sources at the airport said.

(Input: PTI)

The weather system, which lay 150 km northeast of Sagar Island at 5.30 a.m. on May 27, brought torrential rain in Kolkata and the coastal districts of West Bengal overnight, the Met Department said. Kolkata recorded a rainfall of 146 mm in the period between 8.30 a.m. on Sunday and 5.30 a.m. of Monday. Other places in south Bengal which received heavy rainfall during the period are Haldia (110 mm), Tamluk (70 mm) and Nimpith (70 mm), it said.

(Input: PTI)

Severe Cyclonic Storm Remal over Coastal Bangladesh and adjoining Coastal West Bengal weakened into Cyclonic Storm at 0530hrs of the 27 May about 70km northeast of Canning and 30km westsouthwest of Mongla. The system is likely to gradually weaken further, said IMD.

Heavy rain and gusty winds continue in several parts of West Bengal and the coasts of Bangladesh following the landfall of severe cyclonic storm 'Remal'.  The Kolkata Municipality team and Kolkata Police Disaster Management team are engaged in clearing uprooted trees in the Alipore area of the city.