The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of a severe cyclonic storm, named Remal, that is likely to hit the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh on May 26th. The storm, which is currently a well-marked low-pressure area over the west-central and adjoining south Bay of Bengal, is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by May 25th and reach the coast as a severe cyclonic storm by the evening of May 26th.
The IMD has issued rainfall warnings for coastal districts of West Bengal, adjoining districts of North Odisha, and North East India. Light to moderate rainfall is expected in most areas, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated locations in the coastal districts of West Bengal, North Odisha, Mizoram, Tripura, and South Manipur on May 26th and 27th.
The weather department has also issued a warning for fishermen, advising them to avoid venturing into the south Bay of Bengal till May 24th, the central Bay of Bengal till May 26th, and the North Bay of Bengal from May 24th onwards till the morning of May 27th.
Apart from the rainfall, the IMD has also issued wind warnings and rough sea conditions. Gale wind speeds reaching 60-70 kmph, gusting to 80 kmph, are likely to affect the adjoining areas of the North Bay of Bengal from the morning of May 25th. These winds are expected to further increase to 100-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph, over the North Bay of Bengal and 70-80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph, over the adjoining central Bay of Bengal from May 26th morning for the subsequent 24 hours.
The IMD has also warned of squally winds with speeds ranging from 40-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, along and off the coasts of Bangladesh, West Bengal, and the adjoining North Odisha from the evening of May 25th.
Regarding rough sea conditions, the IMD stated that the central Bay of Bengal will experience rough to very rough sea conditions from the morning of May 25th, while the North Bay of Bengal will encounter high to very high sea conditions from the evening of May 25th until the morning of May 27th.
In view of the impending storm, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has cautioned district administrations to implement all necessary precautions at polling stations for the Phase 6 Lok Sabha elections scheduled for May 25th in West Bengal. The state Chief Electoral Officer, Ariz Aftab, has also conducted a meeting with superintendents of police and state disaster management officials to assess the situation and has instructed them to take essential measures to avert any unfavorable circumstances.
