Remal Cyclone weakened as it moved from Bangladesh to West Bengal, causing disruptions in Kolkata and along the Indian Railways. Depopulations and precautions were taken in both countries. Now, recovery efforts are underway, but Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura are on alert.According to recent reports, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Remal Cyclone (Remal is an Arabic term meaning sand), which had been a severe cyclonic storm, weakened into a regular cyclonic storm early Monday and is expected to keep weakening.
As of May 27 at 5:30 a.m., Remal Cyclone was about 70 kilometres northeast of Canning and 30 kilometers west-southwest of Mongla. It is predicted to weaken further.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata, had suspended flights on 26 May because of the Remal Cyclone. However, Flight operations were resumed around 9 a.m. on May 27. The Northeast Frontier Railway also announced that 42 trains would be cancelled for two days starting Monday.
Where Is Remal Cyclone Now
The Indian Meteorological Department reported on Monday morning that the Remal Cyclone was located near Bangladesh’s Mongla port and areas in West Bengal. The storm had weakened with wind speeds of 80-90 km/h. Kolkata airport and Indian Railways resumed operations. However, the National Disaster Management Authority advised residents in affected areas to stay indoors and has not confirmed whether going outside is safe.The IMD also mentioned that the Remal cyclone is expected to move north-northeast at first, then head northeast inland, and slowly weaken over time.
On Sunday, Bangladesh moved 800,000 people from 9 coastal districts, including the Mongla and Chittagong port areas, due to the approaching Remal cyclone. Kolkata airport stopped operations on Sunday afternoon, causing 50 domestic and international flights to be cancelled.Many volunteers helped in the relocation and served up to 9,000 cyclone shelters. Schools were also closed until further notice. From the Sundarbans mangrove forest area, about 150,000 people were moved.
The Indian Coast Guard posted on Twitter early Monday, saying it was closely watching the Remal cyclone landfall. They mentioned that ships and hovercraft were on standby.
How Remal Cyclone Affected Travel Plans
If you have any travel plans to or from the Northeast or West Bengal, you might want to wait. The Remal cyclone is getting weaker, but the affected areas will take time to recover. Here are the latest updates from various regions in East and Northeast India.After the Remal Cyclone hit, Kolkata faced heavy rain and strong winds. Authorities are working hard to reduce the cyclone’s impact. Teams from the Kolkata Municipality and Kolkata Police Disaster Management are busy clearing fallen trees and trash, especially in areas like Alipore.The Sundarbans suffered severe damage to its river dams, with high tides breaking through barriers in several places. This has worsened flooding and made travel dangerous. More than 1 lakh people were relocated from at-risk areas in West Bengal before the Remal cyclone. Now, efforts are focused on evaluating the damage.The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) warned of very heavy rain in Assam and nearby northeastern states on May 27 and 28. Orange and Red alerts are issued for districts such as Dhubri, South Salmara, Bongaigaon, Bajali, Tamulpur, Barpeta, Nalbari, Morigaon, Nagaon, Hojai, and West Karbi Anglong. Also, heavy rain is expected in Chirang, Goalpara, Baksa, Dima Hasao, Cachar, Hailakandi, and Karimganj. People in these areas should prepare for severe weather, including floods, landslides, and strong winds.
Looking at weather conditions caused by the Remal cyclone, the government of Meghalaya has advised people to prepare for extreme weather. Residents are told to make emergency kits, avoid travelling unless necessary, and keep updated with weather news. These steps are important to stay safe as the area expects heavy rain and strong winds.The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Sepahijala and Gumati districts in Tripura due to the Remal Cyclone. Heavy rain and strong winds are expected. Authorities are preparing for the bad weather and have asked people to take precautions. The government is watching the situation closely and working with disaster management teams to respond quickly to any emergencies.
