An intense cyclone hit the low-lying coast of Bangladesh on Sunday (May 26), said the government weather experts as thousands were evacuated to safer areas.
“The severe Cyclone Remal has started crossing the Bangladesh coast,” Bangladesh Meteorological Department director Azizur Rahman told news agency AFP.
“We have so far recorded maximum wind speeds of 90 kilometres (56 miles) per hour, but the wind speed may pick up more pace.”
Rahman added that the severe storm could continue to hammer the coast until the early hours of Monday morning (May 27).
The authorities have raised the danger signals to its highest levels.
“The cyclone could unleash a storm surge of up to 12 feet (four metres) above normal astronomical tide, which can be dangerous,” AFP quoted senior weather official Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik as saying.
NDRF teams deployed in West Bengal
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed in the Indian state of West Bengal, where NDRF personnel are holding awareness drives in South 24 Parganas for people residing in Uttar Danga.
In North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, a NDRF team has been stationed in the Hasnabad village.
“It is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and a cross between Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts around May 26 midnight with maximum sustained wind speed 110 to 120 kilometres per hour, gusting to 135 kilometres per hour,” IMD scientist Somenath Dutta told ANI.
“North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, while Hooghly, Howrah, Kolkata and East Medinipur will receive extremely heavy rainfall,” Dutta said.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday (May 26) said that Cyclone Remal would intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and will cross between Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal on Sunday midnight.
“The CS “Remal” over North BoB about 290 km S SE of Sagar Islands (WB) 300 km S SW of Khepupara (Bangladesh) and 320 km S SE of Canning (WB). To intensify into a severe cyclonic storm in next 06 hours and cross between Bangladesh and adjoining WB coasts around 26 midnight as SCS,” said the IMD.
“From May 27-28, the weather will intensify, with extremely heavy rainfall anticipated in Gomati and Sepahijala districts. Other regions, including South, Dhalai, Khowai, North, Unakoti, and West districts, will see heavy to very heavy rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and squally winds,” it said.
The cyclone would cause rainfall and strong winds in West Bengal, Tripura, and some other parts of northeastern states.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also chaired a meeting in the national capital to review the preparedness for the cyclone.
(With inputs from agencies)
