The cyclone Remal, marking the first severe tempest of the season, has claimed 16 lives in Bangladesh and India following its landfall in Bangladesh’s coastal region on Sunday night.
In West Bengal, the cyclone resulted in six fatalities as it unleashed havoc on coastal areas on Monday. The storm, with winds reaching 135 kilometers per hour, wrought extensive damage from Sagar Island to Khepupara, near Mongla in Bangladesh.
SK Sajid, a 48-year-old resident of Bibi Bagan, perished when a part of his dwelling collapsed. Sajid had ventured out in search of his son but was struck by a cornice upon his return. He was declared dead at NRS hospital.
On Mousuni Island, near Namkhana adjacent to the Sunderbans delta, an elderly woman succumbed to her injuries after a tree felled her hut, causing the roof to cave in.
The cyclone made landfall at 8:30 pm on Sunday, inflicting severe damage to infrastructure and property. The aftermath left thatched roofs torn, trees uprooted, and electric poles toppled, significantly disrupting areas including Kolkata.
Persistent heavy rains on Monday led to waterlogging, further compounding the misery of the affected residents. Homes and farmlands were inundated, and injuries were reported, with one individual in the Gosaba area of the Sundarbans and another in Kolkata’s Bibir Bagan injured by debris and collapsing walls.
The West Bengal government evacuated over 100,000 people from vulnerable zones, focusing on the South 24 Parganas district, encompassing Sagar Island, Sundarbans, and Kakdwip. Widespread damage was reported in North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore.
Digha, a coastal resort town, saw tidal waves breaching a seawall, engulfing fishing boats, homes, and farmlands. Efforts to restore normalcy, including clearing debris and restoring power, were hampered by relentless heavy rains.
Preliminary assessments indicate a prolonged recovery from this natural disaster. The state government has mobilized relief efforts, providing essential supplies such as food, drinking water, and medical assistance to the affected populace.
Authorities urged residents to remain indoors and take necessary precautions amidst ongoing heavy rains. Southern districts recorded light to moderate rainfall, with Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas receiving 68.4 mm and Kanthi in Purba Medinipur district 58 mm within 24 hours till 5.30 pm on Sunday.
Fourteen National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were deployed across affected districts in South Bengal, alongside State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams and trained civil defense volunteers.
Transportation was severely disrupted, with air, rail, and road services in Kolkata and other parts of southern Bengal affected. Eastern and South Eastern Railways canceled several trains on Sunday and Monday, and flight operations at Kolkata airport were suspended for 21 hours from Sunday noon, affecting 394 flights.
In Bangladesh, 150,457 houses were damaged, with 35,483 fully destroyed in 107 unions and 914 municipalities, according to the state minister during a press briefing at the Secretariat on Monday.
A total of 9424 shelters were opened in Bangladesh’s coastal districts, housing over 800,000 people and 52,146 domestic animals. The minister noted that no major damage occurred due to measures taken by the ministry as per directives from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
1,471 medical teams were constituted to provide treatment in cyclone-affected areas, with 1,400 remaining active, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune.
Cyclone Remal weakened to a land depression over Bangladesh on Monday, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
The deceased included three people in Bhola and Barisal districts each, and one each in Satkhira, Khulna, Chittagong, and Patuakhali districts. Md Mohibbur Rahman reported that 19 districts were impacted by the storm, including Jhalakathi, Barishal, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Barguna, Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Bhola, Feni, Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Narail, Gopalganj, Shariatpur, and Jessore.
The minister stated that Tk 6.85 crore had been allocated for affected individuals, with Tk 3.85 crore, 5,500 tons of rice, 5,000 units of dry food, Tk1.50 crore for baby food, and Tk1.50 crore for fodder provided in 15 districts.
Ten international flights from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport were canceled due to Cyclone Remal’s impact and adverse weather conditions, with further disruptions to two other flights. Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Executive Director Group Captain Md Kamrul Islam detailed the cyclone’s impact on flights on Monday, noting cancellations and schedule collapses.
