According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), "Severe cyclonic storm ‘Remal’ made landfall between Sagar Island in Bengal and Khepupara, near the southwest of Mongla in Bangladesh, at 8:30 p.m. on May 26 with wind speeds reaching up to 135 kmph. The severe cyclonic storm began moving northward and continues to do so, gradually weakening on May 27."
The cyclone left a path of devastation after bringing heavy rainfall that submerged houses and farms with it. Electric poles were knocked down, trees were uprooted, thatched hut roofs were blown away, and fragile homes were demolished by the cyclone, causing severe disruption in several regions of the state, including Kolkata.
Over 110,000 people were relocated to cyclone shelters by the West Bengal government from several locations, including Sundarbans, Kakdwip, and Sagar Island. In nine districts, the NDRF has deployed 14 teams, with additional teams on standby.
Significant disruptions in air, train, and road transportation were also brought on by Cyclone Remal in Kolkata and other southern Bengal regions. A total of 394 aircraft were affected by the 21-hour flight operations suspension at Kolkata airport, while several trains operated by the Eastern and South Eastern Railways were cancelled.
West Bengal Governor Ananda Bose held an emergency review meeting on Cyclone "Remal," while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged people to stay at home and assured them of full government support.
To assess the level of preparedness for the cyclone, PM Modi called a meeting. He instructed to place extra units of NDRF on standby for quick deployment. The Indian Coast Guard is also prepared for emergencies. To prevent mishaps, the PM directed that railways, ports, and highways stay on high alert.
