Cyclone 'Remal' to hit Bengal tonight; Kolkata airport suspends operations
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Sunday that Cyclone 'Remal' is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm within the next six hours. It predicted that the cyclone would make landfall between Bangladesh and West Bengal around midnight on Sunday. The storm is predicted to bring rainfall and strong winds to West Bengal, coastal Bangladesh, Tripura, and other parts of northeastern states.
Kolkata Airport suspends operations due to cyclone 'Remal'
In view of the impending cyclone, the Kolkata Airport Authority has announced a 21-hour suspension of flight operations. The decision was made after a meeting with stakeholders, considering the predicted heavy winds and rainfall in Kolkata. The suspension will be effective from 12:00pm on Sunday to 9:00am on Monday, as stated by the airport authority.
Authorities prepare for Cyclone 'Remal' aftermath
Authorities in West Bengal and Tripura are also gearing up for any eventualities arising out of the cyclone. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Inspector Zaheer Abbas assured that they are fully prepared, stating, "If the cyclone hits here, our soldiers are ready to deal with every kind of disaster... Our team is well-equipped." In Tripura, authorities are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with IMD for further developments regarding the storm.
Emergency measures and advisories in place for Cyclone 'Remal'
School buildings in three coastal districts of West Bengal have been earmarked as cyclone shelters. Emergency services are on standby, and advisories have been issued to ports in Kolkata and Paradip in Odisha. The NDRF teams, along with the army, navy, and Coast Guard, are ready as per directives from the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC). The NCMC has also advised all fishermen currently in Bay of Bengal to return to safety.
Evacuation plans and teams ready in vulnerable areas
In South 24 Parganas, around 5,000 people in vulnerable areas across eight blocks have been identified. "We have already deployed three NDRF teams in Gosaba, Sagar and Kadwip. Four SDRF teams have been deployed in Basanti, Gosaba, Sagar and Kadwip," said a senior disaster management official of South 24 Parganas. Announcements about the approaching cyclone are being made on loudspeakers and Quick Response Teams have also been mobilized.
