May 26th 2024.
In the city of Kolkata, a severe cyclonic storm known as 'Remal' has been rapidly gaining strength and is projected to hit the coast between Bangladesh and West Bengal late Sunday night. This has caused authorities to take action and evacuate over 1 lakh individuals from vulnerable areas to ensure their safety.
The coastal regions of Bengal are on high alert as the cyclone has already brought heavy rain and strong winds to various parts of the state. The India Meteorological Department has reported that the center of the storm is currently 160 km south-southeast of Sagar Island as of 6pm.
With maximum sustained winds of 100-110 kmph and gusts up to 120 kmph, the cyclone is expected to make landfall between Sagar Islands in West Bengal and Khepupara near Mongla port in Bangladesh by midnight on Sunday. In response, the West Bengal government has successfully evacuated around 1.10 lakh people from coastal and vulnerable areas, providing them with shelter in cyclone shelters, schools, and colleges.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also taken notice of the situation and chaired a meeting to review the response and preparedness for cyclonic storm 'Remal'. State minister Akhil Giri stated that the experience gained from dealing with previous cyclones, such as Amphan and Yaas, will be utilized to effectively handle this situation.
West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose is closely monitoring the situation and working closely with state and central experts to coordinate a response plan. He emphasized the importance of adhering to standard operating procedures for cyclones and ensuring the safety of residents in coastal regions.
The cyclone has already brought light rain and winds to areas like Digha, Kakdwip, and Jaynagar, and these conditions are expected to intensify on Monday. Somnath Dutta, the eastern regional head of IMD, warned that districts in south Bengal will experience squally winds of 45-55 kmph, gusting to 65 kmph, from Sunday evening. These winds will gradually increase to gale wind speeds of 70-80 kmph, with gusts up to 90 kmph.
Dutta also cautioned that coastal areas of West Bengal could experience surface winds of 100-120 kmph, gusting to 135 kmph from Sunday evening to Monday morning. However, he reassured that the damage caused by 'Remal' is not expected to be as severe as that of Super Cyclone Amphan in 2020.
The IMD has issued warnings of localized flooding and major damage to vulnerable structures, power and communication lines, roads, crops, and orchards in the South and North 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal. Residents in affected areas are advised to stay indoors and avoid vulnerable structures.
To handle the situation, 14 teams of the National Disaster Response Force have been deployed in South Bengal districts, including Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Howrah, and Hooghly. The state government has also mobilized SDRF teams and is working with teams from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
In preparation for the cyclone, relief materials such as dry food and tarpaulins have been dispatched to coastal areas. Quick response teams consisting of trained civil defence volunteers and equipped vehicles are also in place.
The impending landfall of Cyclone 'Remal' has caused significant disruptions in air, rail, and road transportation in Kolkata and other parts of South Bengal. Some trains have been cancelled by Eastern and South Eastern Railways for Sunday and Monday, and flight operations at Kolkata Airport have been suspended for 21 hours from Sunday noon, affecting 394 flights.
The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata has also suspended cargo and container handling operations for 12 hours from Sunday evening in response to the cyclone forecast. The Indian Coast Guard is taking measures to ensure the safety of those at sea, with remote operating stations at Haldia and Paradip broadcasting alerts to fishing vessels and merchant ships.
Nine disaster relief teams are on standby at Haldia, Fraserganj in West Bengal, and Paradip and Gopalpur in Odisha to respond to emergencies. The Indian Navy has also taken action by readying two ships equipped with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and medical supplies for immediate deployment. Their aviation assets, including helicopters and aircraft, are also on standby for rapid response.
Furthermore, specialised diving teams are stationed in Kolkata, and additional teams are on standby in Visakhapatnam and Chilka to provide prompt assistance if needed. Two Flood Relief Teams, along with HADR and medical supplies, have also been positioned in Kolkata, with two more teams from Visakhapatnam and Chilka on standby for deployment at short notice.
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