Cyclone Remal Tracker: PM Modi reviews response and preparedness as landfall nears

Per the IMD, rain and strong winds are likely to hit Northeastern states like Tripura, Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur in addition to coastal West Bengal.

As the first tropical cyclone of the year approaches, both India and Bangladesh are preparing for its impact, with the storm expected to hit land late on May 26 with wind speeds reaching up to 120 km/h (75 mph), according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

As per the IMD, cyclone Remal will intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the next few hours, and cross between Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts around May 26 midnight as a Severe Cyclonic Storm.

The IMD also said that there is a chance of rain and strong winds in Northeastern states like Tripura, Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur in addition to coastal West Bengal. The regional meteorological center in Tripura issued a warning of unfavourable weather conditions beginning on May 26.

The weather agency states, "It is very likely to continue to move nearly northwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by May 26 morning over Northwest and adjoining Northeast Bay of Bengal and cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara by May 26 midnight as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 110-120 gusting to 135 kmph".

A storm surge of up to 1.5 meters is predicted to flood low-lying areas along the coast of West Bengal and Bangladesh during the time of Cyclone Remal's landfall. The weather office has cautioned fishermen against venturing into the sea in the northern Bay of Bengal until the morning of May 26.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Weather Office has also raised its storm danger signal to the highest level of 10 for two ports and nine coastal districts, issuing warnings through loudspeakers. Nearly 8,000 cyclone shelters have been set up in the country, with 78,000 volunteers mobilised, stated Mohibbur Rahman, the state minister for disaster management and relief, in an interview with Reuters. He also mentioned ongoing communication with the regional specialised meteorological center in India.

A low-pressure system that was first seen in the Bay of Bengal on May 22 has developed into a larger depression that is presently located in the center of the Bay of Bengal. On May 25, the IMD stated that this system had intensified into a cyclone, moving along northeastern India.

Stay tuned for Moneycontrol's live updates on Cyclone Remal:

8:15 pm: NDRF deploys 14 teams to aid rescue and relief work in coastal Bengal

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 14 teams in West Bengal to aid in rescue and relief efforts in anticipation of the landfall of Cyclonic Storm Remal.

8:00 pm: PM Modi holds meeting to review response and readiness

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting this evening to assess the response and readiness for Cyclone Remal, expected to hit the coast between Bangladesh and West Bengal by midnight.

7:00 pm: Bengal evacuates over 1 lakh people in Sundarbans, Sagar Islands

As a precautionary measure against the imminent impact of Cyclone Remal, the West Bengal government has evacuated approximately 1.10 lakh individuals from coastal areas, including the Sundarbans and Sagar Island, to secure shelters. In addition, to bolster these initiatives, 16 battalions from both the state disaster management and the NDRF have been deployed in the coastal regions to augment rescue and relief operations, according to PTI.

6:15 pm: Remal not to impact Odisha, light to moderate rains likely in coastal areas, says IMD 

IMD Bhubaneswar Director Manorama Mohanty, interacting with the press, this evening, stated, "Today morning at 5:30 hours IST, a severe cyclonic storm Remal has formed over the north Bay of Bengal. It is likely to move northwestward with a speed of 7 km/hr. It will intensify further and move nearly northward and cross Bangladesh and the adjoining West Bengal coast between Sagar Island and Khepupara... There is not much impact on Odisha. But in coastal Odisha, we are likely to get light to moderate rain at many places with isolated heavy rainfall activity... The fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea till May 27".

6:00 pm: Bengal Governor monitoring situation; urges people to follow SOPs

Expressing concern about the approaching landfall of severe Cyclone Remal along the coastal areas of West Bengal on May 26 midnight, Governor Dr. CV Ananda Bose stated that he is closely overseeing the situation and maintaining constant communication with state and central experts to ensure a synchronised response to mitigate its impact. Bose stressed the significance of ensuring safety for residents in the coastal regions of Bengal and urged them to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for cyclones, as per a PTI report.

5:00 pm: Tripura issues red alert for four districts

The Tripura government issued a red alert for four districts - South, Dhalai, Khowai, and West - in anticipation of the severe cyclonic storm Remal, expected to make landfall between Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts by midnight.

According to revenue secretary Brijesh Pandey, the chief secretary convened a meeting of the state executive committee of disaster management on Sunday to review the preparedness for 'Remal.' Officials from the revenue and meteorological departments, the Airports Authority of India, and security forces attended the meeting.

4.00 pm: Cyclone Remal moved towards North Bay at 13 km/hr  in the last 6 hours, 

Commenting on the advancement of cyclone Remal towards landfall, IMD scientist Somenath Dutta stated this afternoon, "In the last 6 hours, the cyclone 'Remal' is moving towards the North Bay with the speed of 13 km/hr... It is in the southwest of Khepupara, Bangladesh... Currently, the windspeed is 95-105 km/hr... It will move in the north direction. At midnight, it will cross the region between Sagar Island and Khepupara... The maximum windspeed will be 110-120 km/hr, gusting to 135 km/hr."

3:00 pm: Bengal sets up 24*7 control room to monitor situation

The West Bengal government has established a 24*7 control room at the state secretariat in Kolkata to closely monitor the situation in coastal districts and areas expecting heavy rainfall due to Cyclone Remal, which is forming in the Bay of Bengal and anticipated to make landfall in Bangladesh and Bengal at midnight.

This control room will work in coordination with the police, disaster management teams, Kolkata municipality, and emergency response forces, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Coast Guard, and Civil Defence. For information or assistance during the cyclone, individuals can contact the control room at 1070 or 033 22143526.

2:00 pm: Air, train travel impacted in Bengal

Kolkata airport authorities ordered the suspension of flight operations for 21 hours from Sunday noon given the possible impact of cyclone Remal. A total of 394 flights, arrival and departure, in both international and domestic sectors would not operate to and fro the airport during the flight suspension period, according to the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Meanwhile, several trains have been cancelled from Sealdah station owing to the approaching cyclonic storm. The Kolkata Port has also suspended operations in view of Cyclone Remal.

1:00 pm: ICG ramps up measures ahead of landfall; Haldia, Paradip ports on high alert

Ahead of cyclone Remal's expected landfall on May 26 midnight, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has taken proactive measures to mitigate potential loss of life and property at sea, as reported by news agency PTI. Remote operating stations at Haldia and Paradip have been activated to alert fishing vessels and merchant ships.

Additionally, the ICG has readied ships and aircraft for search and rescue operations, with disaster relief teams stationed at Haldia, Fraserganj, Paradip, and Gopalpur. To coordinate efforts among state agencies, a control room has been established at the Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar.

12:00 pm: IMD issues warnings of potential damages in coastal Bengal

The IMD has issued warnings of potential damage over several West Bengal districts due to cyclone Remal, particularly affecting South & North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata, and adjoining East Medinipur.

The anticipated impacts include:

>> Significant damage to thatched houses and huts.
>> Risk of unattached metal sheets being airborne.
>> Possibility of tree branches breaking and trees being uprooted, leading to major damage to banana and papaya trees, with dead limbs potentially blowing off.
>> Potential damage to power and communication lines due to branches breaking and trees uprooting.
>> Damage to Kutcha and minor damage to Pucca roads from heavy rainfall.
>> Harm to paddy crops, horticultural crops, and orchards.
>> Inundation of low-lying areas and localised flooding.
>> Occasional reduction in visibility due to heavy rainfall.
>> Disruption of traffic due to waterlogging and squally winds.

11:00 am: IMD issues heavy rainfall warning for Bengal, Odisha, North eastern states

The IMD has issued heavy rainfall warnings for West Bengal, Odisha, and northeastern states for May 26 and 27.

For West Bengal, light to moderate rainfall is expected in most places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few locations in coastal districts and eastern districts adjacent to Bangladesh on May 26 and 27. Isolated extremely heavy rainfall (≥ 20 cm) is anticipated over these districts on May 26, with peak rainfall activity likely from noon on May 26 to noon on May 27. According to an IMD press release, "Low-lying areas of coastal West Bengal and coastal Bangladesh are likely to be inundated around the time of landfall by storm surges of approximately one meter above astronomical tide and three to four meters above astronomical tide, respectively".

In Odisha, light to moderate rainfall is forecasted in most places, with isolated heavy rainfall expected over North Coastal Odisha on May 26.

In northeastern states, light to moderate rainfall is expected at most places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated locations over Mizoram, Tripura, and South Manipur on May 26, and over Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, and Tripura on May 27 and 28, according to the IMD.  The West Tripura District Magistrate and Collector of Agartala, Vishal Kumar, stated on May 25 that the NDRF and other teams are prepared in light of the warning and are getting ready to move people from low-lying areas to safe shelters and begin relief efforts if necessary.