West Bengal braces for Remal, flights and trains cancelled
Severe cyclonic storm 'Remal' is likely to make landfall between Bangladesh's Khepupara and West Bengal's Sagar Island by midnight Sunday with maximum sustained wind speed of 110-120 km per hour, gusting to 135 kmph, the India Meteorological Department said.
More than 300 flights have been cancelled with the Kolkata airport suspending operations for about 21 hours starting 12 PM Sunday. All local trains totalling around 59 have also been cancelled from 11pm Sunday.
Ahead of the final and seventh phase of polls, BJP and Trinamool Congress have cancelled their political programmes on Sunday and Monday.
«It is very likely to continue to move nearly northwards, intensify further and cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara, close to southwest of Mongla (Bangladesh) by midnight of today, May 26, 2024, as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph,» an IMD official said.
Somnath Dutta, head of IMD in West Bengal said the cyclone will have a wind speed of 50-60 kmph in Kolkata and South 24 Parganas districts and heavy rainfall is likely to lash many districts including East Midnapore, South and North 24 Parganas and Kolkata.
«We have given warning to fishermen for May 23-27. In South and North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata. Damage to thatched house, vulnerable buildings, unattached metal and falling of trees. Major damage to banana plantation. Possibility of power and communication line. Water logging is also
