A day after strong cyclonic storm "Remal" made landfall with gusts of up to 135 kilometres per hour, West Bengal's coastal districts witnessed widespread destruction on May 27.
When the storm made landfall on Sunday at 8:30 p.m., it devastated the state's and Bangladesh's neighbouring beaches between Sagar Island and Khepupara, which is close to the southwest of Mongla in the nation. It severely damaged both property and infrastructure.
Trail of destruction in India & Bangaldesh
'Remal' left a trail of destruction in its wake. Roofs of thatched huts were blown away, trees uprooted and electric poles knocked down, causing significant disruption in various parts of the state, including Kolkata.
Waterlogging has been reported in several areas, compounding the misery of the affected residents.
According to authorities, at the height of the storm, a person died in Kolkata, when pieces of concrete fell on him. Since climate change is forcing sea surface temperatures to rise, the low-lying beaches of Bangladesh and India, have seen a lot of violent storms of late. The first cyclone of the year in the area is called Remal.
Authorities in Bangladesh shut down electricity supply to many areas in advance to avoid accidents while many coastal towns were left in the dark as fallen trees and broken lines disrupted supply, power ministry officials said.
Forecasters had predicted gusts of up to 130 kilometers (81 miles) per hour, with heavy rain and winds lashing the coastlines of West Bengal and Bangladesh.
"The cyclone could unleash a storm surge of up to 12 feet (four meters) above normal astronomical tide, which can be dangerous," Bangladeshi senior weather official Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik stated, as per AFP.
PM Modi Holds Review Meeting in Delhi
Meanwhile, on the evening of May 26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting to assess the response and readiness for Cyclone Remal, stated the Prime Minister's Office.
The Prime Minister was briefed that the National Crisis Management Committee is in constant touch with the West Bengal Government.
PM Modi later took to microblogging site X stating, "Took stock of the disaster management infrastructure and other related aspects. I pray for everyone’s safety and well being".
Reviewed the preparedness in the wake of Cyclone Remal. Took stock of the disaster management infrastructure and other related aspects. I pray for everyone’s safety and well being. pic.twitter.com/JW4iybKS5g— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 26, 2024
PM Modi noted that the Centre has extended full support to the West Bengal government and will continue to do so. He directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to monitor the situation and review it after the cyclone's landfall to extend necessary assistance for restoration.
He also instructed that, in addition to the 12 NDRF teams already deployed in West Bengal and one in Odisha, more teams be kept on standby to mobilise within an hour. The Indian Coast Guard is to deploy its assets for any emergency, and ports, railways, and highways should remain on high alert to avoid any incidents, stated the PMO.
The IMD is also providing regular updates to Bangladesh, as per the PMO statement.
Amit Shah takes stock of situation
Home Minister Amit Shah outlined the swift action being taken by disaster response agencies and the evacuation efforts underway in light of Cyclone Remal's landfall between Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal. Shah reiterated the PM Modi government's commitment to minimising casualties during disasters.
He stated, "In response to the landfall of Cyclone Remal, I have been in contact with relevant officials. The NDRF has been strategically deployed in all potentially affected areas. Evacuations to safer zones are ongoing, with disaster response agencies working diligently to safeguard lives and property", on microblogging site X.
In the wake of the landfall of Cyclone Remal, spoke to concerned officials. Adequate deployment of NDRF has been made in all the areas where the cyclone may have an impact. People are being evacuated to safer areas, and the disaster response agencies are working on a war footing…— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) May 26, 2024
Cyclone Remal's impact in India
The IMD stated 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.
Source: IMD
According to the weather agency, "Cyclone Remal over the North Bay of Bengal is to move northwards about 130 km southeast of Sagar Islands (WB), 140 km southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), 140 km southeast of Canning (WB), 160 km southwest of Mongla of Bangladesh and cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts by midnight today with a max wind speed of 110-120 kmph".
Preparedness in Bengal
As a precautionary measure against cyclone Remal, the West Bengal government has evacuated over 1.10 lakh people from coastal regions, including the Sundarbans and Sagar Island, to secure shelters, a senior official said on May 26.
To bolster these efforts, 16 battalions each from the state disaster management and NDRF have been deployed in the coastal areas, the official added. "Inhabitants of Kakdwip, Namkhana, Diamond Harbour, Raichawk were also shifted to safe shelters," further noted the official.
The state government has taken proactive steps to address the impending crisis by distributing approximately 5.40 lakh tarpaulins and ensuring the availability of dry ration, powdered milk, and drinking water pouches across these districts. A centralised control unit has been established at the state secretariat to monitor the situation closely.
All fishermen have been advised not to venture into the South Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. Around one lakh people have been moved to safer places.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to microblogging site X, urging the people of the state to stay indoors and keep themselves safe.
"Stay home and stay safe. We are there for you, today and always. This storm shall pass too".
Stay home and stay safe. We are there for you, today and always. This storm shall pass too.— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 26, 2024
Governor CV Ananda Bose also held an emergency review meeting in Calcutta later in the evening.
"Bengal is prepared to face this crisis with confidence and courage. This is not the first time that Bengal is facing a similar crisis. We will certainly brave this storm confidently, effectively, and proactively. A task force has been set up...", he stated.
The Kolkata Police has established a unified command centre at its headquarters to manage the situation, comprising officials from various departments including power utilities, Public Works Department, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, National Disaster Response Force, Kolkata Municipal Development Authority (KMDA), fire and emergency services, the Disaster Management Group (DMG), and police.
In addition to the landline numbers 033-2214-3024 and 033-2214-3230, the city police has also announced two helpline numbers - 9432610428 and 9432610429 - for citizens.
The helpline numbers at the state secretariat are 1070 and (033)-22143526.
(with inputs from agencies)
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