The authorities of Kolkata airport have decided to suspend flight operations for 21 hours from Sunday noon in view of the possible impact of cyclone Remal, an official said here.
A total of 394 flights, arrival and departure, in both international and domestic sectors would not operate to and fro the airport during the flight suspension period, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) spokesperson told PTI.
Cyclone 'Remal' has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and is expected to make landfall between West Bengal's Sagar Island and Bangladesh's Khepupara on Sunday night, the IMD said.
This is the first cyclone in the Bay of Bengal this pre-monsoon season.
Cyclone 'Remal' over the north Bay of Bengal intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and was centred approximately 290 km south-southeast of Khepupara and 270 km south-southeast of Sagar Island, according to an update issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) at 8 am on Sunday.
"My grandmother came here today but she was informed that her flight is overbooked and she will have to come tomorrow again because the remaining flights have been cancelled due to a cyclone. Several flights are getting cancelled here. The main reason for cancellation is due to the cyclone and bad weather conditions..."
(Credit: X/@ANI)
A residential area, ahead of the landfall of Cyclone 'Remal', in South 24 Parganas district.
Deserted Bakkhali beach ahead of the landfall of Cyclone 'Remal', in South 24 Parganas district
People cover themselves with umbrellas as it rains, ahead of the landfall of Cyclone 'Remal', at Bakkhali beach, in South 24 Parganas district
Vehicles move on a bridge, ahead of the landfall of Cyclone 'Remal'
Fishing boats anchored in view of Cyclone 'Remal', at Frazerganj of Namkhana.
Fishing boats anchored at a harbour in view of Cyclone 'Remal', in South 24 Parganas district
The Indian Navy has initiated preparatory actions, following existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), to mount a credible Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) response in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal.
The cyclone is anticipated to cross the coast on the intervening night of 26/ 27 May. The situation is being closely monitored at Naval Headquarters, with comprehensive preparatory actions being undertaken by the Headquarters, Eastern Naval Command.
Cyclone 'Remal' has strengthened into a severe cyclonic storm and is expected to hit the coasts of Bangladesh and West Bengal by Sunday midnight, with winds of 110-120 kmph and gusting up to 135 kmph, according to the Meteorological Department.
The cyclone is anticipated to bring extremely heavy rainfall to the coastal districts of West Bengal and heavy to very heavy rain in Kolkata and nearby areas.
"The deep depression that was there in Bay of Bengal has moved North. It has become a severe cyclonic storm. The landfall is expected between 12 pm to 6 am tonight. IMD has predicted the sustainable speed between 110-120 kmph. The gusting wind speed will be 135 kmph. Landfall is expected between WB's Sagar and Bandladesh's Khepupara. The intensity will be severe. The roofs of Kachha Houses may get damaged. There would be waterlogging in low-lying areas. After the landfall, the cyclone will move North. There will be effect for 12-14 hours. The most affected will be South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, and East Medinipur. The eye of the storm will hit Bangladesh. 14 teams of NDRF have moved."
Credit: PTI Photo
Credit: PTI Photo
Credit: PTI Photo
“The severe cyclone storm ‘Remal’ lays centre of the North Bay of Bengal, about 200 kilometres south of Canning. It is moving northward and will continue to do so hitting the coast between Sagar Island of West Bengal and Khepupara of Bangladesh. Under its influence, rainfall has already started in the area, and we are expecting heavy rainfall in the coastal districts. The rainfall can exceed 25 centimetres today,” says India Meteorological Department Chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.
With inputs from PTI
"In the last 6 hours, the cyclone 'Remal' is moving towards the North Bay with the speed of 13 km/hr... It is in the southwest of Khepupara, Bangladesh... Currently, the windspeed is 95-105 km/hr... It will move in the north direction. At midnight, it will cross the region between Sagar Island and Khepupara... The maximum windspeed will be 110-120 km/hr, gusting to 135 km/hr..."
A passenger rests at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, in Kolkata, Sunday.
A passenger rests on the floor at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, in Kolkata as flight operations have been suspended for 21 hours from noon on Sunday due to the anticipated impact of cyclone 'Remal'.
Waterlogging at the Kolkata Airport due to rainfalls ahead of the landfall of the Cyclone 'Remal'.
Passengers stand in queues at counters at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, in Kolkata, Sunday, May 26, 2024.
Waterlogging at the Kolkata Airport.
Flight attendants of the Indigo Airlines at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, in Kolkata.
Locals take shelter at a relief camp, ahead of the landfall of Cyclone 'Remal', at Frazerganj of Namkhana, in South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal.
Rains and strong winds ahead of the landfall of Cyclone 'Remal', in South 24 Parganas district, Sunday, May 26, 2024.
Boats anchored at the bank of River Hooghly ahead of the landfall of Cyclone Remal, in Kolkata.
Police personnel make announcements ahead of cyclone Remal’s landfall at the Hooghly river, in Kolkata.
A rail worker ties a train to the track with chains as a precautionary measure, ahead of the landfall of Cyclone Remal, at Shalimar railway station in Howrah.
"... Today morning at 5:30 hours IST, a severe cyclonic storm Remal has formed over the north Bay of Bengal. It is likely to move northwestward with a speed of 7 km/hr...There is not much impact on Odisha. But in coastal Odisha, we are likely to get light to moderate rain at many places with isolated heavy rainfall activity. The fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea till May 27," IMD Bhubaneswar Director Manorama Mohanty told ANI.
"We want to assure that the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and the state government under the leadership of CM Mamata Banerjee are continuously working for the people. Nearly 15,000 labourers are working to normalise the situation in Kolkata. The commissioner has held meetings with all departments, and the pumping stations are working regularly. I urge the people to keep themselves safe," said Kolkata Municipal Corporation Mayor Firhad Hakim at a press conference.
With inputs from PTI
"The severe cyclonic storm Remal over the north Bay of Bengal moved nearly northward with a speed of 16 kilometres per hour during the past 6 hours and it lay centred at 17 30 hours IST today...The landfall process will commence in the next 2-3 hours and the current intensity near the centre in terms of maximum sustained wind is 110 to 120 gusting to 135 kilometers per hour..."
With inputs from ANI
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose called an emergency review meeting on cyclone Remal on Sunday evening as expected landfall time inches closer. An official notification issued by the Raj Bhavan read that a task force has been set up to assist the public in this hour of need. Raj Bhavan will be open for the public, in case they need safe accommodation and other support.
With inputs from ANI
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the landfall process will continue for the next 4 hours.
Cyclone Remal over the North Bay of Bengal is to move northwards about 130 km southeast of Sagar Islands (WB), 140 km southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), 140 km southeast of Canning (WB), 160 km southwest of Mongla of Bangladesh and cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts by midnight today with a max wind speed of 110-120 kmph.
The Tripura government on Sunday issued a red alert in four districts — South, Dhalai, Khowai, and West — in the wake of severe cyclonic storm 'Remal', reported PTI.
"Since Kolkata airport has already been shut down due to the cyclonic storm, all flights to and from MBB Airport to Kolkata have been suspended, but services on other routes Agartala-Guwahati, Agartala-Delhi, and Agartala-Bangalore are operating normally," said an AAI official.
SCS “Remal” (pronounced as “Re-Mal”) over the North Bay of Bengal about 110 km east of Sagar Islands (West Bengal), to move nearly northwards and cross Bangladesh and adjoining WB coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara, close to SW of Mongla (Bangladesh) in next 3 hrs as SCS
“Our state and district emergency operation centres will function 24/7. The cyclone is turning into a severe cyclonic storm. Schools and educational centres will remain closed on May 27 and 28,” says Tripura Disaster Management Authority Secretary Brijesh Pandey.
The landfall process started at 8:30 pm... over the Bangladesh and West Bengal coast. As per the observation at 10:30 pm, it shows that the landfall process is continuing...by 12:30 am the landfall process will be complete.Somnath Dutta, Eastern Region Head, IMD Kolkata
The Severe Cyclonic Storm 'Remal' over the North Bay of Bengal moved nearly northwards, with a speed of 13 kmph during past 06 hours, crossed the Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal Coasts between Sagar Islands and Khepupara close to southwest of Mongla near Latitude 21.75°N and Longitude 89.2°E between 22:30 hrs IST of 26th May to 00:30 hrs IST of 27th May 2024 as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with wind speed of 110 to 120 Kmph gusting to 135 Kmph. It lay centered at 01:30 hrs IST of today, the 27th May, 2024 over Coastal Bangladesh and adjoining Coastal West Bengal, near latitude 21.9°N and longitude 89,2°E about 115 km east of Sagar Islands (West Bengal), 105 km west-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), 70 km southeast of Canning (West Bengal) and SO km south-southwest of Mongla (Bangladesh), The system would continue to move nearly northwards for some more time and then north-northeastwards and weaken gradually into a Cyclonic Storm by morning of 27" May 2024: IMD (ANI)
Reports from North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts stated roofs of thatched houses were blown away, electric poles twisted and trees uprooted in several areas. Streets and homes in low-lying areas adjoining Kolkata were inundated. One person was injured after being hit by debris in the Gosaba area of the Sundarbans.