Cyclone remal has caused significant disruption and devastation in West Bengal, resulting in one fatality and widespread transport chaos. The storm hit the coastal regions of the state on Sunday night, bringing wind speeds of up to 135 km per hour and heavy rainfall, as reported by the Hindustan Times.
The cyclone claimed the life of Mohammad Sajib, a resident of Kolkata’s Bibi Bagan area. In addition to this tragic loss, the severe weather has led to the suspension of various transport services. Train services in Sealdah North, South, and Howrah have been halted since Monday morning, with metro services also suspended in multiple locations. Both domestic and international flights remain grounded.
After making landfall on Sunday evening, Cyclone remal intensified, with wind speeds increasing in Kolkata after 10 pm. The meteorological office forecasts further rainfall accompanied by thunder and gusty winds of 50 to 60 km per hour in Kolkata, with Murshidabad and Nadia expected to experience even heavier rains and wind speeds of 60 to 70 kilometers per hour.
The aftermath of the cyclone has left many areas in Kolkata flooded. The continuous rain has exacerbated the situation, particularly in low-lying areas. South 24 Parganas and East Medinipur are among the most affected regions, with numerous trees and electricity poles uprooted, leading to widespread power outages.
Local train services on the Sealdah North and South branches and Howrah line have been disrupted due to fallen trees on the tracks. Railway officials indicate that train services will only resume after thorough inspections and track clearance, a process hampered by the ongoing adverse weather.
Flight operations at Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport have been suspended for 21 hours, impacting 394 flights. Despite plans to resume services on Monday morning, continued bad weather has kept the airport closed. Similarly, Kolkata's Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port has ceased operations, and the Tripura government has suspended air traffic on the Kolkata-Agartala route. Educational institutions in the area have been closed on May 27 and 28 as a precaution.
The local meteorological office has issued warnings for heavy rain in several districts, including Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, East Burdwan, West Burdwan, and Birbhum. However, forecasts suggest that rainfall will taper off from Monday onward, with southern districts expected to see a cessation of rain by Tuesday.
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