Cyclone Remal Lashes Kolkata, Dhaka
Cyclone Remal made landfall between coastal Bangladesh and West Bengal (WB) last night at 7:30 p.m., causing severe destruction in the regions. The IMD recorded wind speeds of up to 135 km/h as the severe cyclonic storm struck between the Sagar Islands and Khulna in coastal Bangladesh.
The low-pressure system caused heavy rains in Kolkata, the capital of WB, resulting in two reported casualties. Prior to the storm, the IMD issued a red cyclone warning for the coastlines, advising fishermen to stay out of the sea until Monday. Spanning approximately 400 km, Cyclone Remal brought severe devastation to the coastlines of both West Bengal and Bangladesh, with Bangladesh bearing the majority of the impact.
Azizur Rahman, Director of the BMD, reported that strong winds and heavy rains have caused severe waterlogging in the low-lying areas of Payra and Mongla. Additionally, Dhaka, Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Haldibari, Kalapara, and Chittagong are experiencing heavy rains and cyclonic winds.
During the month of May each year, coastal Bangladesh and West Bengal receive their share of the world’s most extreme cyclonic storms, a trend that seems to worsen due to accelerated climate change. Over the past two decades, coastal communities in both India and Bangladesh have been hit hard by several tropical cyclones.
Cyclones like Sidr in November 2007, Aila in May 2009, Fani in May 2019, Bulbul in November 2019, Amphan in May 2020, Yaas in May 2021, Sitrang in October 2022, and most recently, Remal (May 25–28) have brought widespread destruction, significantly impacting the lives and livelihoods of people in the region.
Extremely heavy rainfall sparks an emergency evacuation along the coastlines
Wind speeds ranging from 80 to 100 km/h were recorded in the north and south 24 Parganas in West Bengal, with numerous reports of fallen trees, collapsed mud houses, and the destruction of electrical lines and poles. The IMD had issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall (over 20 cm) in coastal regions including Digha, Haldia, Fraserganj, Gosaba, Kakdwik, Namkhana, and Sagar.
Somenath Dutta, Director of the Indian Meteorological Centre in Alipore, Kolkata, stated that Remal would cause less damage than its predecessor, Amphan (2020), which had devastated the Indian coast in West Bengal.
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim stated, “The National Disaster Management Authorities, along with the State Disaster Response Force, have deployed over 20 teams to the coastal regions of West Bengal. Their aim is to evacuate nearly 1.1 lakh civilians who reside along the coastlines. The Coast Guard has also stationed several ships equipped with humanitarian relief supplies. Additionally, Dornier aircraft have conducted sorties to alert any vessels off the coast to return promptly.”
The severe cyclonic storm claimed two lives in West Bengal. One individual was killed in Kolkata’s Bibir Bagan area when a wall collapsed due to heavy rains, while another person was killed by fallen debris in Gosaba, Sundarbans.
Campaigns for LS polls suspended amidst Cyclone Remal
With the last phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 remaining in West Bengal and the Sundarbans, the TMC (Trinamool Congress), BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), CPIM (Communist Party of India (Marxist)), and several other political parties had many scheduled road shows and events planned. However, with the onset of Cyclone Remal, most parties cancelled them.
The scheduled roadshow of Trinamool supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from Narendrapur to Sonarpur was cancelled due to the storm, while the roadshow of TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee from Metiabruz was also cancelled.
Political events featuring BJP candidates Suvendu Adhikary and Sukanta Majumdar were also cancelled, including their roadshows at Mathurapur and Sandeshkhali. The nine remaining Lok Sabha seats in Kolkata and adjoining areas, including the Sundarbans, will go to the polls on June 1st, marking the final phase.
