The first cyclone of this pre-monsoon season in the Bay of Bengal, Cyclone Remal, is expected to make landfall in Bengal today. Authorities anticipate it will intensify into a severe cyclonic storm. As a precautionary measure, flight operations at Kolkata Airport have been suspended for nearly 21 hours. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an advisory and alerts for areas that may be impacted by the cyclone.
As previously mentioned, the IMD predicts that Cyclone Remal will intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and reach Kolkata by tonight. According to the IMD, “The cyclonic storm Remal is currently located over the North Bay of Bengal, approximately 290 km south-southeast of Sagar Islands (West Bengal), 300 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), and 320 km south-southeast of Canning (West Bengal). It is expected to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm within the next 6 hours and make landfall between Bangladesh and the adjacent West Bengal coasts around midnight on the 26th.”
IMD Issues Advisory for Cyclone Remal: Key Points to Note
Before Cyclone Remal escalates into a severe cyclonic storm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an advisory for individuals residing in areas susceptible to its impact. Here are the key points of the advisory:
- The IMD advises fishermen to refrain from venturing into the sea for fishing. Those already at sea are urged to seek safe harbor.
- A warning is issued for potential localized flooding and damage to power, communication infrastructure, crops, vulnerable structures, and under-construction roads in the South and North 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal.
- Vulnerable structures must be evacuated, and individuals should remain indoors during this period, as stated in the advisory.
IMD Alerts for Cyclone: Affected Areas
The IMD has issued alerts for various regions, particularly in West Bengal, based on the level of danger or threat posed by Cyclone Remal:
- A Red Alert is in effect for May 26-27 in coastal districts of South and North 24 Parganas, with heavy rainfall expected.
- An Orange Alert is issued for May 26-27 in Kolkata, Howrah, Purba Medinipur, and Nadia districts, warning of gusty winds up to 100 kmph and heavy to very heavy rainfall.
- A Yellow Alert is issued for May 26 in Balasore, Bhadrak, and Kendrapara, and for May 27 in Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, and Balasore, with heavy to very heavy rainfall anticipated.
List of Affected Places by Remal
The areas predicted to be affected by Cyclone Remal, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), include:
- Districts of West Bengal
- Tripura
- Assam
- Nagaland
- Manipur
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