Cyclone Remal Live Updates: Storm intensifies, to make landfall on 26 May, Bengal on high alert

“IMPORTANT ADVISORY- Due to cyclonic storm conditions, Kolkata airport will be closed from 1200 hrs of 26 May to 0900 hrs of 27 May. Air India flights to/from Kolkata during this period are likely to be affected.,” Air India posted. 

“Passengers booked on these flights are requested to check our website for further updates,” the airline added. 

The IMD has warned of localised flooding and significant damage to vulnerable structures, power and communication lines, kutcha roads, crops, and orchards in South and North 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal.

People in the affected areas have been advised to remain indoors.

Fishermen are advised not to venture into south Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea till 27th May, central Bay of Bengal till 26th May and North Bay of Bengal from 25th May till 27th May. Fishermen out at sea are advised to return to the coast.

A red alert was issued for the coastal districts of South and North 24 Parganas in West Bengal for May 26-27, where extremely heavy rain is expected in some areas.

An orange alert is in place for Kolkata, Howrah, Nadia, and Purba Medinipur districts, warning of wind speeds of 80 to 90 kmph, gusting to 100 kmph, and heavy to very heavy rainfall at some places on May 26-27.

The Met office has warned of extremely heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of West Bengal and north Odisha on May 26-27. Parts of northeast India may also experience extremely heavy precipitation on May 27-28.

A storm surge of up to 1.5 meters is expected to inundate low-lying areas of coastal West Bengal and Bangladesh at the time of landfall.

Cyclone Remal Live Updates:  The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has initiated comprehensive preparatory measures and placed nine disaster relief teams at strategic locations to ensure minimal loss of life and property at sea due to Cyclonic Storm ‘Remal’ originating in the central Bay of Bengal.

According to the Ministry of Defence, “9 disaster relief teams have been positioned at strategic locations including Haldia, Paradip, Gopalpur, and Frazerganj, ready to provide immediate assistance in the event of an emergency.”

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: “I am directed to refer to the reports of IMD and subsequent advisory of NDMA (enclosed) and to state that the depression over the central Bay of Bengal has moved north- northeastwards, which is likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm by May 25, 2024 morning. Subsequently, it would move nearly northwards, and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by May 26, 2024 night,” Revenue Department Additional Secretary Dr Tamal Majumder said

Thousands of people would be evacuated and brought to shelters from the vulnerable areas in the coastal villages of West Bengal as the eastern state braces for impact of severe Cyclone Remal around Sunday midnight, officials told HT.

“We have already identified the low lying and vulnerable areas. Initially we plan to evacuate around 8,000-10,000 villagers from low lying areas. While some may move to the cyclone shelters by Saturday night, the rest would be brought in on Sunday,” said Sumit Gupta, district magistrate of South 24 Parganas.

People in the affected areas have been asked to remain indoors and vacate vulnerable structures.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said it has taken all pre-emptive measures to ensure there is no loss of life or property at sea.

ICG’s remote operating stations at Haldia and Paradip are alerting fishing vessels and merchant ships through VHF (very high frequency) broadcasts, a statement said.

“Bangladesh Coast Guard authorities have been informed for instituting needful preparation for a collective response to the developing situation,” it said.

A red alert was issued for West Bengal’s coastal districts of South and North 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur, and also for adjoining Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly, where extremely heavy rain is likely on Sunday and Monday.

The South and North 24 Parganas are likely to witness the most impact of the cyclone with wind speeds reaching 110 to 120 kmph, gusting to 130 kmph, while the other districts are likely to experience wind speeds of 70 to 80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph.

A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm, named Remal, on Saturday evening and is likely to turn severe before making landfall between the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh on Sunday midnight, the IMD said.

The weather system, moving at a speed of 12 kmph over the east-central Bay of Bengal, was 350 km south-southeast of Sagar Island in West Bengal at 5.30 pm on Saturday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely along & off Bangladesh and West Bengal & adjoining North Odisha coasts from 25th May evening It is likely to increase becoming gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph from morning of 26th May and 100-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph along & off Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts from evening of 26th May for subsequent 12 hours

Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph is prevailing over central Bay of Bengal. It is likely to become Gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph from evening to today, the 25th May.

Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places is likely over Mizoram, Tripura and South Manipur on 26th and over Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur & Tripura on 27 th & 28th May. 

Isolated extremely heavy rainfall is also likely over Assam, Meghalaya on 27th & 28th May, Arunachal Pradesh on 28th May and Mizoram & Tripura on 27th May.

A low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into cyclonic storm ‘Remal’ and is expected to make landfall between West Bengal’s Sagar Island and Bangladesh’s Khepupara at midnight on Sunday, the IMD said.

This is the first cyclone in the Bay of Bengal this pre-monsoon season.

The deep depression over the east-central Bay of Bengal intensified into cyclonic storm ‘Remal’ and was centered approximately 360 km south-southeast of Khepupara and 350 km south-southeast of Sagar Island, according to an update issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) at 7:50 pm on Saturday.

Cyclone Remal formed over Bay of Bengal, landfall likely between West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts on Sunday midnight: IMD

Tripura issued an advisory for cyclone ‘Remal’ based on reports of IMD of severe weather forecast, heavy to very heavy rainfall with winds and cyclonic storm by May 25 that will further intensify into severe cyclonic storm by May 26 accompanied with heavy rainfall till May 28.

In a letter dated May 24 Revenue Department Additional Secretary Dr Tamal Majumder said, “I am directed to refer to the reports of IMD and subsequent advisory of NDMA (enclosed) and to state that the depression over the central Bay of Bengal has moved north- northeastwards, which is likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm by May 25, 2024 morning. Subsequently, it would move nearly northwards, and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by May 26, 2024 night.”

Low-pressure system over Bay of Bengal intensifies into cyclonic storm ‘Remal’: India Meteorological Department

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibur Rahman told a press conference here that nearly 4,000 shelter centres have been readied in the coastal districts, equipped with adequate dry food supplies.

“We have 80,000 volunteers ready to tackle the situation and all necessary preparations have been made,” Rahman was quoted as saying by The Daily Star newspaper.

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), the state-owned news agency, quoted a special bulletin that said maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal number three in the wake of the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal.

The IMD said damage is expected over South and North 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal. The Met department expects tree uprooting, damage to power and communication lines, traffic disruption due to water logging and squally winds, reduced visibility due to heavy rainfall, inundation of low-lying areas and localised flooding, and damage to crops and Kutcha houses.

Light to moderate rainfall at most places with isolated heavy rainfall likely over North Coastal Odisha on 25th and 26th May.

Bangladesh has readied nearly 4,000 shelters equipped with adequate dry food supplies and water as it prepares for severe cyclonic storm ‘Remal’ forecast to make landfall on Sunday evening with a potential high tidal surge and heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of Satkhira and Cox’s Bazar, media reports said on Saturday.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) is expected to issue a ‘great danger’ signal number 10 between 12 midnight and 1:00 am Sunday.

IMD scientist Dr Somenath Dutta said Cyclone Remal will “most likely” hit Bangladesh and its adjoining West Bengal coast at midnight on May 26. It may make landfall between Sagar island in West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh.

The latest cyclone, in its full formation, will be called Remal. The word means ‘sand’ in Arabic. The name was suggested by Oman.

The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata will suspend all cargo and container handling operations for 12 hours from Sunday evening in view of the forecast of a cyclonic storm, officials said.

The operations will be suspended from 6 pm on Sunday till 6 am on Monday, they said.

The decision was taken for the safety of dock workers, they added.

Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places is likely over coastal districts of West Bengal and eastern districts of Gangetic West Bengal adjacent to Bangladesh on 26th & 27th with isolated extremely heavy rainfall over these districts on 26th May.

Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places likely over eastern districts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal on 27th and 28th May.

The severe weather is expected to have a significant impact on low-lying areas, including potential damage to crops and infrastructure. Flooding and disruptions to daily life are likely, and residents are advised to prepare for prolonged periods of adverse weather.

The safety advisory issued by IMD has issued a stern warning to residents in the affected areas. People are advised to stay indoors and remain inside their homes during the warning period, refrain from going outside unless absolutely necessary and safeguard outdoor items and reinforce structures to withstand high winds.

Speaking with ANI, Partha Roy, the Director of IMD Agartala, said, “We have a cyclone prediction. It’s on the 26th, 27th & 28th May. It has been given by IMD Agartala. The low-pressure area that was observed on 22 May in the Bay of Bengal has now intensified and is more depressive.

“It will further intensify which we have predicted and will turn into a cyclone and will move towards northeastern India on the 25th Morning. The landfall area of the cyclone is the West Bengal and coastal region of Bangladesh and the landfall time is on 26th Midnight,” he added.

For May 26, IMD has issued adverse weather conditions with severe rainfall predicted for Tripura with thunderstorms, lightning and wind speeds between 40-50 kmph. The weather will remain severe with continued heavy to very heavy rainfall across Tripura for the next two days after May 26.

The primary regions affected are West Bengal, Coastal Bangladesh, Tripura and some other parts of north-eastern states. Residents in these areas, as well as in the neighbouring state of Tripura, are urged to brace for adverse weather conditions starting from May 26.

The Tripura regions are expected to be lashed with severe rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lighting with speeds ranging from 40-50 kmph and with gusts reaching up to 70 kmph at peak times.

The anticipated landfall of Cyclone Remal is projected to occur in West Bengal and the coastal regions of Bangladesh around midnight on May 26. The cyclone will bring with it extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds.

A low-pressure area that was first observed on May 22 in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a more depressive system, now located in the central Bay of Bengal. IMD predicts that this system will further intensify into a cyclone and move towards northeastern India by the morning of May 25.

IMD Agartala has issued a severe cyclone warning for the northeastern region of India and coastal areas of Bangladesh. Cyclone Remal is expected to make landfall in Bengal on Sunday.

Cyclone Remal Live Updates: “Deep Depression over East central BoB lay over same region about 420km S SE of Sagar Islands(WB) 420km S of Khepupara(Bangladesh). To intensify into a cyclonic storm by 25 evening and cross between Bangladesh and adjoining WB coasts around 26 midnight as SCS,” the IMD said in a post on X.