Cyclone Remal rips through Bengal: Storm floods farmlands, flattens homes; more rains expected today. Top 10 updates
The landfall occurred between Sagar Island in Bengal and Khepupara, near the southwest of Mongla in the neighbouring country. The vast coastline was blurred by thick sheets of rain as the cyclone made landfall, with surging waters sweeping fishing boats inland and inundating mud-and-thatch houses and farmlands in low-lying areas.The MeT office said, “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 kmph."Cyclone Remal flattened fragile dwellings, uprooted trees and knocked down electric poles North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore.
More than one lakh people were evacuated from vulnerable areas in West Bengal before the cyclone struck.Evacuation efforts focused on relocating people from South 24 Parganas district, especially Sagar Island, Sundarbans and Kakdwip, according to an official.Streets and homes in low-lying areas adjoining Kolkata were inundated. In Kolkata's Bibir Bagan area, one person was injured when a wall collapsed due to a heavy downpour.Cyclone Remal also caused significant disruptions in air, rail and road transportation in Kolkata and other parts of southern Bengal.
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