The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning that Cyclone Remal has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and is expected to make landfall between Bangladesh and the adjoining West Bengal region around midnight on Sunday. Heavy rainfall and strong winds are predicted to impact West Bengal, coastal Bangladesh, Tripura, and other northeastern states.
The cyclone originated as a low-pressure area on May 22 in the Bay of Bengal and has since intensified into a depression, now positioned in the North Bay of Bengal. Residents in the most affected regions, including West Bengal, Coastal Bangladesh, Tripura, and various parts of the northeastern states, are advised to prepare for adverse weather conditions beginning on May 26.
Meanwhile, Kolkata Airport Authority has announced the suspension of flight operations for 21 hours due to Cyclone Remal’s landfall. The suspension will be in effect from 1200 IST on May 26 to 0900 IST on May 27 due to predicted heavy winds and heavy to very heavy rainfall at Kolkata.
The cyclone has been named ‘Remal’ as per the established naming protocol for cyclones in the Indian Ocean region. The name, proposed by Oman, holds significance as it translates to ‘sand’ in Arabic.
