Severe Cyclone Remal struck between the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh, with winds reaching up to 135 km/h, resulting in heavy rains that flooded homes and farmland, causing widespread destruction.
On Monday, significant damage to infrastructure and property was reported across coastal areas of West Bengal. Roofs of thatched huts were torn off, trees were uprooted, and electric poles were knocked down, causing major disruptions, including in Kolkata.
According to Reuters, in Kolkata, one person died when concrete debris fell on him.
Heavy rains continued into Monday morning, flooding homes and farmlands and worsening the situation for affected residents. Waterlogging has been reported in several areas.
Heavy rain is impeding relief operations
Efforts to restore normalcy are ongoing, with emergency services working diligently to clear debris and restore power. However, continuous heavy rains are hindering these operations.
The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but initial reports indicate that recovery will require substantial time and effort.
The state government has launched relief measures, providing food, drinking water, and medical assistance to the affected population. Authorities are urging residents to stay indoors and take necessary precautions as the heavy rains persist. The landfall process began at 8:30 PM on Sunday (May 26) over the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh between Sagar Island and Khepupara, near the southwest of Mongla in Bangladesh.
The Indian meteorological office stated, “Severe cyclonic storm Remal made landfall between Sagar Island in West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh on Sunday night with wind speeds reaching up to 135 km/h.”
Over 100,000 people were evacuated from vulnerable areas in West Bengal before the cyclone hit. However, the cyclone flattened fragile dwellings, uprooted trees, and knocked down electric poles. In the Gosaba area of the Sundarbans, one person was injured by debris.
In Kolkata’s Bibir Bagan area, a wall collapse due to heavy rain injured one person.
Low-lying areas inundated
The North and South 24-Parganas and East Midnapore districts experienced extensive damage. News footage showed massive tidal waves crashing into a seawall in the coastal resort town of Digha.
Thick sheets of rain obscured the vast coastline as the cyclone made landfall, with surging waters sweeping fishing boats inland and flooding mud-and-thatch houses and farmlands in low-lying areas.
Reports from North and South 24-Parganas and East Midnapore districts indicated roofs of thatched houses were blown away, electric poles were twisted, and trees were uprooted in many areas. Streets and homes in low-lying areas near Kolkata were inundated.
Arup Biswas, the power minister of West Bengal, told Reuters that the power infrastructure was heavily damaged, with at least 356 uprooted electricity poles and damage to numerous transformers reported during the first hour of the landfall.
1.10 lakh people evacuated
By late Sunday afternoon, the West Bengal government had relocated around 110,000 people from coastal and vulnerable areas to cyclone shelters, schools, and colleges.
Evacuation efforts focused on moving people from South 24-Parganas district, especially Sagar Island, Sundarbans, and Kakdwip, according to an official.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting to review the response and preparedness for the storm, while West Bengal Governor Dr. CV Ananda Bose closely monitored the situation.
Evacuations in Kolkata
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged people to stay home and assured them of her government’s support.
Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) authorities evacuated people from high-rises and dilapidated buildings, according to Mayor Firhad Hakim.
Hakim mentioned that 15,000 civic employees were mobilized to handle post-cyclone situations, with equipment ready to quickly remove large uprooted trees. Rain is expected to continue on Monday.
The cyclone caused light rain and wind in areas like Digha, Kakdwip, and Jaynagar, expected to intensify on Monday.
Somnath Dutta, the head of the India Meteorological Department’s eastern region, indicated that southern Bengal districts would experience increased wind and rainfall.
Fourteen National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were deployed across districts in South Bengal, including Kolkata. The state government has readied SDRF teams and coordinated with the KMC.
Relief materials, including dry food and tarpaulins, have been sent to coastal areas, and quick response teams comprising trained civil defense volunteers and equipped vehicles are in place.
Transport disruptions
Cyclone Remal has significantly disrupted air, rail, and road transportation in Kolkata and other parts of southern Bengal.
The Eastern and South Eastern Railways canceled some trains, and the Kolkata airport suspended flight operations for 21 hours, affecting 394 flights.
The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata also suspended operations.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ensured no loss of life or property at sea, with remote operating stations alerting vessels and ships. Nine disaster relief teams were on standby.
The Indian Navy has readied two ships equipped with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and medical supplies, with aviation assets on standby for rapid response. Specialized diving and flood relief teams have also been prepared for deployment.
One dead in Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, tidal surges swept a youth away, and several people were injured in southeastern Patuakhali.
Police reported that an overcrowded ferry carrying more than 50 passengers—double its capacity—sank near Mongla Port, the storm’s path, as people fled to safety. However, all passengers were rescued with some injuries.
Earlier, authorities evacuated over 800,000 people from vulnerable areas of the country’s low-lying southwestern coastlines to shelters. Domestic animals were also taken to designated cyclone shelters.
“The storm alongside the high tide turned terrifying,” a district administration official in a makeshift control room in Patuakhali told news agency PTI by phone.
Like Kolkata, flight operations at Chittagong airport were suspended for eight hours, while the Chattogram Port Authority halted all port operations.
