New Delhi: A deep depression has intensified into cyclonic storm Remal Saturday evening over northwest, adjoining northeast and east-central Bay of Bengal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The severe cyclone is expected to make landfall between Sagar Island in West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh by late Sunday night, the Met department alert warned. Wind speeds are likely to reach 100-120 kmph, with warnings of extremely heavy rainfall and flooding in some parts.
“The deep depression over east-central Bay of Bengal moved nearly northward with a speed of 12 kmph during past 06 hours, intensified into a cyclonic storm Remal and lay centered at 5.30 pm IST today (Saturday) over the north and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal,” the IMD cyclone bulletin said.
In the wake of the cyclonic storm, flight operations at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport were also suspended for 21 hours starting Sunday noon.
“In view of cyclone Remal’s impact on the coastal region of West Bengal, including Kolkata, a meeting was held with the stakeholders and it has been decided to suspend flight operations from 1200 IST on May 26 to 0900 IST on May 27 due to predicted heavy winds and heavy to very heavy rainfall in Kolkata,” the airport authority said in a statement Saturday.
The Kolkata port has also announced the suspension of all cargo and container handling for 12 hours starting Sunday evening — 6pm Sunday to 6am Monday.
Fishermen have been advised to return to the coast and not venture into the sea till 27 May.
The IMD has warned of extremely heavy rains in parts of West Bengal and Odisha on 26 and 27 May, adding that rainfall activity is also likely in parts of northeast India on 27 and 28 May.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has deployed around 17 teams in the area, earmarking buildings in three districts where shelters have been set up. Control rooms and emergency services have also been put on standby, according to rescue teams.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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