Amidst the tension in West Bengal, Cyclone Remal has escalated into a severe cyclonic tempest and is anticipated to hit the shores between Sagar Island in West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh on Sunday night. As per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclone is slated to traverse the region between Bangladesh and the coastal zones of the eastern state by midnight on Sunday. The IMD, in its bulletin on Sunday morning, conveyed, “The Cyclonic Storm ‘Remal’ is presently situated over the North Bay of Bengal approximately 290 kilometers south-southeast of Sagar Islands (West Bengal), 300 kilometers south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), and 320 kilometers south-southeast of Canning (West Bengal). It is projected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm within the next six hours and traverse the vicinity between Bangladesh and the adjoining West Bengal coasts around midnight on the 26th, assuming the characteristics of a Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS).”
This marks the inception of cyclonic activity in the Bay of Bengal during the pre-monsoon season. Cyclone ‘Remal’ over the northern expanse of the Bay of Bengal has transformed into a severe cyclonic disturbance, positioning itself around 290 kilometers south-southeast of Khepupara and 270 kilometers south-southeast of Sagar Island.
Authorities have indicated that the cyclone is poised to make landfall with wind velocities ranging from 110 to 120 kilometers per hour, with gusts potentially reaching speeds of up to 135 kmph. The IMD, which has issued a cautionary advisory, has also forewarned of copious rainfall in the coastal precincts of West Bengal and northern Odisha on May 26-27. Upon landfall on the night of May 26, Cyclone Remal is anticipated to bring about a storm surge of up to 1.5 meters, submerging low-lying regions along the coastal peripheries of West Bengal and Bangladesh.
An amber alert has been issued for Kolkata, Howrah, Nadia, and Purba Medinipur districts on May 26 and 27, with a cautionary notification of wind velocities ranging from 80 to 90 kmph, accompanied by heavy to exceedingly heavy precipitation at select locations.
