Cyclone Remal makes landfall and leaves trail of destruction in Kolkata; heavy rain and gusty winds continue
Kolkata (West Bengal), May 27: Following the landfall of the severe cyclonic storm ‘Remal’, heavy rain and gusty winds continue to affect Kolkata. The Kolkata Municipality team and Kolkata Police Disaster Management team are actively clearing uprooted trees in the Alipore area of the city. Late-evening visuals depict workers striving to clear roads amidst ongoing rain.
Priyabrata Roy, Deputy Commissioner of South Kolkata, said, “We have received reports of uprooted trees in some areas. The Kolkata Municipality team and Kolkata Police Disaster Management team have arrived at these locations, and work is in progress. The uprooted trees will be cut and cleared soon to reopen the roads. By morning, the situation should be resolved. The police’s special unified control room is monitoring the situation throughout the night, and the Municipality Control Room is also operational.”
The landfall process commenced at 8:30 pm on Sunday over the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh, between Sagar Island and Khepupara, near the southwest of Mongla in Bangladesh. ‘Remal’ has caused significant damage, flattening fragile dwellings, uprooting trees, and knocking down electric poles. The storm’s wind speeds ranged from 110 to 120 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 135 km/h. Visuals from outside the Raj Bhavan showed heavy rain and strong winds impacting the capital city.
Somnath Dutta, Eastern Region Head of the IMD Kolkata, commented on the landfall, stating, “The landfall process began at 8.30 pm over the Bangladesh and West Bengal coast. Observations at 10.30 pm indicated that the process was ongoing and would be completed by 12.30 am.”
Ahead of the landfall, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting at his residence to review the preparedness for Cyclone Remal over the North Bay of Bengal. He was briefed that the National Crisis Management Committee is in regular contact with the Government of West Bengal. All fishermen have been advised to avoid venturing into the South Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.