Cyclone Remal News Highlights: 6 dead, over 29,000 houses damaged in West Bengal's coastal areas

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Two Kolkata Metro rakes, manufactured by locomotive maker Dalian, arrived in the city from China, an official said on Monday.

These two new rakes are part of an order for 14 rakes from the firm. While one rake is already in use, the two latest rakes arrived at the Noapara shed here on May 26.

According to a Metro spokesperson, the city port is expected to receive the remaining 11 rakes from Dalian in the next six months.

The first 18 rakes for Kolkata Metro were built by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), a unit under the Ministry of Railways. These non-AC Metro rakes with a DC propulsion system have since been retired after reaching the end of their service life.

Today, on the 18th day of Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra (Uttarakhand), the number of devotees reaching the pilgrimage site has crossed 5 lakh, informs Rudraprayag Police

West Bengal Power Secretary Santanu Basu says, “South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, parts of Medinipur, Murshidabad, and Nadia districts have been affected by cyclone Remal the most. We started our restoration work early in the morning today... We have been able to restore 45 out of the 50 substations that were affected and 80% of the restoration work, be it in the substation level or in the downstream infrastructure with respect to the 33kV feeders or the 11 kV feeders, has been restored. In certain areas in the North 24 Parganas, we have been unable to restore 6-7 substations because of the wind and rain... In South 24 Parganas we have been able to restore almost all the substations...”

An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 on the Richter Scale hit the Arabian Sea at 8:56 pm today, the National Center for Seismology informed.

Six persons -- one in Kolkata, two women in South 24 Parganas district, one in Panihati in North 24 Parganas district and a father-son duo in Memari in Purba Medinipur -- lost their lives due to the cyclone.

Nearly 29,500 houses in 24 blocks and 79 municipal wards, mostly in the south coastal areas of West Bengal, were partially or entirely damaged by Cyclone Remal, a state government official said on Monday.

Additionally, over 2,140 trees were uprooted, and about 1,700 electric poles fell in various parts of the state, he added.

The areas affected by Cyclone Remal include Kakdwip, Namkhana, Sagard Island, Diamond Harbour, Fraserganj, Bakkhali and Mandarmani.

“The main partner (of Rajkot’s game zone) is still on the run. The other partners arrested till now are giving evasive replies and are not cooperating with the investigative agencies. The court has directed all the accused to a 14-day police custody,” says Special Public Prosecutor Tushar Gokani.

The Indian Army has collaborated with the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) for incorporating green and sustainable transport solutions in the force.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Army and the IOCL in presence of Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande and Indian Oil Chairman Shrikant Madhav Vaidya on Monday to take forward the initiative.

The father of the accused minor brought to the Crime Branch and is being officially arrested in an abduction case.

He was under judicial custody at Yerwada Jail after the Pune District Court allowed Pune Police to take custody of the accused father in the driver abduction case in connection to the car crash case.

“I am delighted by the outstanding performance of our Indian Para-athletes at the World Para Athletics Championship. Rising from 34th to 6th rank in just seven years, they have delivered their best performance yet at the 2024 Championship, securing an impressive 17 medals!” PM Modi writes on social media platform X.

-- Nearly 15,000 houses in 24 blocks and 79 municipal wards, mostly in the southern coastal areas of West Bengal, were affected by Cyclone Remal.

-- At least 2,140 trees were uprooted in different parts of the state which also witnessed the falling of 337 electric poles.

-- According to the initial evaluation, at least 14,941 houses were damaged, out of which 13,938 were partially affected while 1,003 were destroyed.

Director General of Meteorology, IMD, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra says, “Usually, monsoon reaches near Kerala on June 1... This year, the monsoon may reach Kerala on May 31, ± 4 days. In the next 5 days, there are favourable conditions for the monsoon to reach Kerela and the northeastern states...”

-- Mumbai Police control room today received a call that bombs have been placed at Taj Hotel and airport in the city.

-- Police conducted search at the locations but nothing suspicious was found.

-- The call originated from Uttar Pradesh and search for the caller is underway.

"National Commission for Women is gravely disturbed by Twitter post allegations against Punjab MLA Mr. Balkar Singh. The reported acts, if substantiated, constitute serious violations under IPC sections 354 and 354B, directly affronting a woman's dignity," the National Commission for Women (NCW) writes in a social media post.

-- A fire broke out in a wood warehouse in Delhi's Bhalswa Dairy area, earlier today.

-- Fire tenders are present at the spot.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) takes suo motu cognizance of the Vivek Vihar incident which claimed the lives of 7 newborns due to fire.

The commission visited the spot today and observed that in the said nursing home there was no emergency exit, no fire extinguishers and emergency fire alarm were working, and no automatic water sprinkle systems were functional.

This is a violation of the National Building Code of India, 2016 (Fire and Life Safety) and the guidelines of the National Disaster Management Authority, the NCPCR said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar is set to move the High Court against the city court's decision to reject his bail plea in connection with the Swati Maliwal assault case, Aam Aadmi Party says.

Reacting to Prajwal Revanna’s statement saying he will appear before the SIT on May 31, Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara says, “I have seen the video where he has said that he will cooperate with SIT. I welcome it. All efforts were being made to bring him back. Our Chief Minister wrote a letter to the Prime Minister on this issue, and we requested the CBI to issue a Blue Corner Notice. I welcome Prajwal Revanna's decision and he should come and say what he wants to say before the Special Investigation Team. A warrant has already been issued to arrest him.”

Three accused arrested in the case being taken to District Court. A massive fire broke out at the gaming zone on 25th May claiming the lives of 28 people.

Head Eastern Region, IMD Kolkata, Dr Somnath Dutta says," After making a landfall, Cyclone Remal moved into the Northward direction…..The strength of Cyclone Remal has reduced from severe cyclonic storm to cyclonic storm….The cyclone will gradually lose its energy…..Today by evening, it will become a deep depression…”

Delhi's Tis Hazari court dismissed Bibhav Kumar's bail application in AAP MP Swati Maliwal assault case

Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police, based on specific input, launched a joint search operation in the dense forest area of Awra, Kupwara, today. During search, a Terrorist hideout was busted, and a large cache of arms, ammunition, equipment and other war-like stores recovered, said officials

Cyclone Remal has helped advance the progress of monsoon in the Bay of Bengal region, says IMD, but does not see it make any long-term impact on monsoon.

“Don't see large scale impact of cyclone on monsoon advancement,” it says.

“I can speculate that rainfall advancement in northwestern regions of India can be weaker,” predicts IMD Chief M Mohapatra.

-- A transition from EL Nino conditions to ENSO neutral is imminent in the beginning of June

-- La Nina may develop at least by beginning of August

-- With developing La Nina conditions in the second half one can expect more rainfall around that time around September

IMD Chief Mohapatra says, “Heat wave conditions of 4-6 days likely in northwest India and adjoining north central India in June.”

“North west and adjoining areas will see an increase in frequency of heat wave days in June by 2-3 more days,” he adds.

-- Eastern and north eastern India to see below normal rainfall activity.

-- Northwest India to see normal rainfall activity.

-- See normal to above normal rainfall in most parts of the country.

-- Central and south peninsular India to see above normal rainfall activity.

-- Normal to above normal rainfall activity predicted over most parts of South India and adjoining central India in June.

-- Maximum temperatures seen to be above normal in most parts of the country in June

-- See Less rainfall in northwest India therefore temperature is higher

The Indian Meteorological Department said at a presser on May 27 that it expects above normal rainfall (likely) in the country as a whole during the monsoon season (from June to September).

Quite confident that rainfall will be above average, the met department said.

Quantitatively, south west monsoon seasonal rainfall over India will likely be 106% of long period average with a model error of plus\minus 4 percent, it added.

Forecast suggests normal onset and advancement of monsoon, says IMD.

It adds that the conditions good for onset of monsoon over Kerala in the next 5 days; Rainfall activities to intensify in Kerala in next few days.

Above normal rainfall over many parts of peninsula and central India was correctly predicted, the IMD says, and adds, “See good rainfall in north east parts of the country in the upcoming days.”

Expect monsoon to progress in a good way, says IMD chief M Mohapatra, adding, monsoon advancements is neither delayed nor sooner than expected. Conditions will become favourable for further advancement of monsoon in the next five days.

Heavy rainfalls in May confined to peninsula regions such as Kerala and parts of Telangana, Mohapatra further says and adds, north west and north east India saw higher than normal temperatures in May.

-- Heat wave expected in northwest India and adjoining areas in next three days

-- Heatwave to reduce gradually from MAY 30 onward with western disturbances approaching

-- Maximum number of heatwave days has been over Rajasthan and Gujarat

-- Heat wave to severe heat wave warning likely in many parts of N-W India during next three days, likely to reduce from May 30

-- Assam also experiencing heat wave, with record temperature in May 25-26

-- IMD DG M Mohapatra says, “Damage expected over West Bengal, and part of north eastern states due to cyclone.”

-- Fishing activity is recommended to be suspended till May 27 in West Bengal.

-- Month of May has witnessed various types of severe weather, including a heatwave, monsoon and a cyclonic storm, says IMD in a presser.

-- The Meteorological Department warns of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in the northeastern states on May 27-28.

Hospital owner Naveen Khichi and Dr Akash brought to Vivek Vihar Police station after they were remanded to three days of police custody till May 30 in connection with the Delhi New Born Baby Care Hospital fire incident.

Six newborn babies died and several others were injured after a fire broke out at the hospital in Vivek Vihar on 25th May.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis says, “The incident is very serious. It was only due to proper investigation by the police that it was revealed that the blood samples of the accused had been replaced with other samples. The other samples were with the police, so it was immediately exposed and the doctors who were involved in it have been arrested...”

“It has come to the notice of the National Commission for Women (NCW) that during Maliwal’s visit to the residence of the Chief Minister of Delhi, Bibhav Kumar was called after the arrival of Swati Maliwal at the CM residence. In light of this, it is imperative to investigate the Call Detail Records (CDR) of all relevant individuals, including the Chief Minister of Delhi, to ascertain on whose direction Bibhav Kumar was summoned.”

Pune Police on May 27 arrested one more accused in the case for his alleged involvement in the manipulation of the blood sample of the minor accused

One person died in Kolkata due to a wall collapse incident that took place during cyclonic storm 'Remal' that made landfall last night in the coastal area between West Bengal and neighbouring Bangladesh, a senior NDRF officer said on May 27.

Fourteen teams of the federal contingency force are undertaking restoration and rescue work. They have removed about 54 uprooted trees, two electric poles and cleared about 18 kms of roads in affected areas of Hasnabad, Sandeshkhali, Gosana, Sagar, Shyampur, and Haringhata.

News Live Updates: Car catches fire near IGI Airport Terminal 1 of Delhi

Court allows police to take custody of accused teen's father in case of kidnapping and wrongful confinement of their driver

Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj expressed concerns about the health of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, noting his continuous weight loss since being taken into custody. Bharadwaj highlighted issues regarding Kejriwal's insulin treatment:

"Since he (Arvind Kejriwal) was taken into custody, his weight has continuously decreased. In Tihar, his weight was decreasing and even now, when he is at home, he is not gaining weight which is generally a subject of concern. This allegation of the BJP denying insulin to him is there. They have wrongly said that he is being monitored by the sugar specialist but when, on the Court's order, an AIIMS doctor did the checkup, he said that insulin was required. I think it might happen that in a conspiracy to kill him (Delhi CM), they have denied insulin to damage his organs."

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep concern over the impact of Cyclone Remal in the Sundarbans and other coastal areas. She spoke with Chief Secretary B. P. Gopalika to assess the damage and ongoing restoration efforts.

"The CM enquired about the number of lives lost and injured, the extent of damage including uprooted electric poles and trees, and the progress of restoration efforts," an official said.

Government officials reported that the death toll from Cyclone Remal, which hit low-lying areas of Bangladesh, has risen to at least 10 people. The cyclone destroyed more than 30,000 homes and damaged tens of thousands more.

"They mostly died after they were crushed under fallen houses or collapsed walls," said Showkat Ali, government administrator of Barisal district, where seven people perished. Three additional deaths occurred in neighboring districts.

Cyclone Remal battered the coastlines of India and Bangladesh on Monday, resulting in at least four fatalities and disrupting electricity for millions before it weakened. This year's first cyclone in the region is another in a series of frequent storms affecting the low-lying coasts of these South Asian countries, exacerbated by climate change and rising sea surface temperatures.

Fierce winds snapped power lines, uprooted poles and trees, and tore roofs off tin and thatched houses. The heavy rain and high tides damaged embankments and flooded coastal areas.

"We have had no electricity since night, my mobile battery will run out anytime," said Rahat Raja, a resident of Bangladesh's coastal district of Satkhira. "By Allah's grace, the cyclone was not as violent as we thought."

After making landfall last night, the severe cyclonic storm has weakened into a cyclonic storm and is expected to turn into a deep depression by the evening. Restoration work is ongoing as trees have been uprooted, communication lines disrupted, and power outages reported. Efforts are underway to restore normalcy in coastal regions of South Parganas, Medinipur, and Kolkata. Fourteen NDRF teams are deployed in West Bengal. Unfortunately, there has been one death due to a wall collapse in Kolkata, says NDRF DIG.

The Tiz Hazari court heard the bail plea of Bibhav Kumar, an aide to Arvind Kejriwal, in connection with the alleged assault case involving Swati Maliwal. Kumar's counsel, N Hariharan, countered Maliwal's allegations by highlighting the three-day delay in filing the complaint. “She was the DCW Chief... she was well aware of her rights. If her rights were violated, then she should have made the complaint immediately,” he argued, questioning the legitimacy of the delay in reporting the incident.

During the hearing for Bibhav Kumar's bail plea in the alleged assault case filed by Swati Maliwal, Kumar's counsel raised doubts about the nature and timing of the wounds reported.

- The date of the MLC (Medico-Legal Case) is on May 16. This incident allegedly took place on May 13. This is an unexplainable gap.
- We do not know the nature of the wounds... are they recent? Are they three days old?

During the ongoing hearing for Bibhav Kumar's bail plea related to Swati Maliwal's case against him, Kumar's counsel presented the following arguments:

- Swati Maliwal did not claim that the CM called her to visit his premises... what she did amounts to trespass. Can someone enter anyone's residence like this? This is the CM's house.
- She (Maliwal) was asked to wait outside. She barged in. Can being an MP give you a license to do anything? According to one of the security statements, 'Sansad ko aap bahaar intezaar karwaoge?'
- She had some pre-meditated thoughts before coming (to the CM's residence).

An Uttar Pradesh court has scheduled June 7 for the hearing of a defamation case against Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi's lawyer, Kashi Prasad Shukla, stated, "(Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi is currently engaged in campaigning for the Lok Sabha election in Patna, and therefore, he couldn't appear before the court." The defamation complaint was filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra, alleging objectionable remarks by Gandhi against Home Minister Amit Shah.

Several districts in Assam are on high alert following a forecast of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall starting Monday due to Cyclone Remal, which made landfall in neighboring West Bengal and Bangladesh. The administration has urged residents to maintain safety measures and established helpline numbers for emergencies. The Northeast Frontier Railway announced the cancellation of 42 trains for two days beginning Monday. Parts of Assam, including Guwahati, have been experiencing rainfall since late Sunday, bringing relief from the high temperatures. No damage from the cyclone has been reported so far. "Cyclone Remal can bring inclement weather in parts of Assam. We are taking several precautionary measures," Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated on X.

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah praised the ground staff for their relentless efforts in maintaining excellent pitches despite challenging weather conditions during the successful T20 season. In appreciation, the groundsmen and curators at the 10 regular IPL venues will receive INR 25 lakhs each, while those at the 3 additional venues will receive INR 10 lakhs each. "Thank you for your dedication and hard work!" Shah tweeted.

Police reported that in the Pune car crash case, a juvenile's blood sample was discarded and replaced with another person's sample. This replacement was allegedly done under the instructions of Dr. Taware and Dr. Halnor of Sassoon Hospital.

Flight services at Kolkata airport resumed on Tuesday after a 21-hour suspension due to Cyclone Remal, an official confirmed. The first flight to depart was IndiGo's Kolkata-Port Blair flight at 8:59 am. The first flight to land was SpiceJet's flight from Guwahati, which arrived at 9:50 am, according to a top official from the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Army Chief Manoj Pande emphasized the long-standing partnership between the Indian Army and the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), which spans six to seven decades. He highlighted the relationship as being founded on trust and a solid foundation.

Expressing his satisfaction with the progress, Pande noted that under the government's Green Hydrogen Mission of 2023, IOC has developed technology for green hydrogen production. Collaborating with Tata Motors, they are now set to test one of the first 15 green hydrogen buses.

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj has convened a meeting at Delhi Secretariat to address the Vivek Vihar Hospital fire incident. Additionally, the escalating heat wave in Delhi will be discussed. Health Department officials are expected to attend.

BJP National President JP Nadda expressed concerns for the people of West Bengal amid Cyclone Remal's impact. On Monday, he stated that party workers will assist in relief and rescue efforts.

“Concerned for the people of West Bengal and nearby states in the wake of Cyclone Remal, I have discussed and given detailed instructions to all the BJP state unit karyakartas of BJP for Bengal and neighbouring states to assist and aid in the relief and rescue work by the guidelines. I have also asked our party workers to provide all necessary support to those affected and in need,” Nadda wrote on X.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, requesting an extension of his interim bail by 7 days. The Aam Aadmi Party stated that Kejriwal needs this time to undergo a PET-CT scan and other medical tests.

The Eastern Railway announced that no mail or express trains have been cancelled. The Howrah-Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express (22301), Howrah-Ranchi Shatabdi Express (12019), and Howrah-Dhanbad Black Diamond Express (22387) will run as per schedule on Monday.

Cyclone Remal brought gusty winds and heavy rains to the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, resulting in waterlogging and the uprooting of trees.

A massive fire broke out on the terrace of Aastha Hospital in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh. The fire officer reported, "We received information about the fire at Aastha Hospital. Twelve patients have been rescued safely, and no one was harmed."

At least 35 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike at a camp for displaced people in Rafah, the Hamas-run ministry of health reported late Sunday. The strike occurred two days after the International Court of Justice issued a ruling ordering Israel to halt its operations to protect civilians. The Israeli military stated the strike targeted “legitimate targets under international law” based on “precise intelligence,” killing two senior Hamas officials responsible for West Bank operations. The northwest area of Rafah was overcrowded with tents from people fleeing the city's assault, which the Biden administration warned against due to the risk to civilian lives. Social media footage showed fire spreading across tents as people rescued the dead and injured.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Mumbai Zonal Unit (MZU) conducted simultaneous searches at multiple premises in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, targeting a syndicate involved in the smuggling of cigarettes and other contraband. This operation led to the seizure of 53.64 lakh foreign branded cigarette sticks, valued at Rs 8.04 crores. The mastermind of the syndicate, along with an associate, was apprehended during the operation.

- Movement: Severe Cyclonic Storm 'Remal' moved nearly northwards at 13 kmph over the past six hours.
- Landfall: Crossed the coasts of Bangladesh and West Bengal between Sagar Islands and Khepupara, southwest of Mongla.
- Coordinates: Near Latitude 21.75°N and Longitude 89.2°E.
- Timing: Between 22:30 IST on May 26 and 00:30 IST on May 27, 2024.
- Wind Speeds:
- Sustained: 110-120 kmph.
- Gusts: Up to 135 kmph.
- Current Position (as of 01:30 IST, May 27, 2024)
- Centered over Coastal Bangladesh and Coastal West Bengal.
- Coordinates: Near Latitude 21.9°N and Longitude 89.2°E.
- Distances:
- 115 km east of Sagar Islands (West Bengal).
- 105 km west-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh).
- 70 km southeast of Canning (West Bengal).
- 50 km south-southwest of Mongla (Bangladesh).
- Future Movement: Expected to continue northwards before turning north-northeastwards.
- Forecast: Gradually weakening into a cyclonic storm by the morning of May 27, 2024, according to IMD.

Kolkata experienced heavy rain and gusty winds after the severe cyclonic storm 'Remal' made landfall on Sunday evening between the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh with wind speeds of 110-120 kmph, gusting up to 135 kmph. Visuals from outside the Raj Bhavan showed the city being battered by the storm. According to the IMD, Cyclone 'Remal' moved nearly northwards and crossed the Bangladesh and West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara, near southwest of Mongla (Bangladesh). Somnath Dutta, Eastern Region Head of IMD Kolkata, confirmed that the landfall process began at 8:30 pm and was expected to be complete by 12:30 am.

The Severe Cyclonic Storm 'Remal' moved nearly northwards at 13 kmph over the past six hours, crossing the coasts of Bangladesh and West Bengal between Sagar Islands and Khepupara, close to southwest of Mongla. This occurred between 22:30 IST on May 26 and 00:30 IST on May 27, 2024, with wind speeds of 110-120 kmph, gusting up to 135 kmph. As of 01:30 IST on May 27, 2024, the storm was centered over Coastal Bangladesh and adjoining Coastal West Bengal. It is expected to continue moving northwards before turning north-northeastwards and gradually weakening into a cyclonic storm by the morning of May 27, 2024.

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