Cyclone Remal To Cross Coast between Sagar Island (India) and Bangladesh, Odisha Braces for Impact

Bhubaneswar: A low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into severe cyclonic storm Remal. It is expected to make landfall between Sagar Island (India) and Khepupara (Bangladesh) early Sunday (May 26) morning.

This cyclonic storm will be accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds. Remal is the first pre-monsoon cyclone in the Bay of Bengal this season. The name was provided by Oman.

According to the IMD, Cyclone Remal will move northward and then eastward, becoming a severe cyclonic storm over the east-central Bay of Bengal by Saturday morning. It will then intensify further and track towards the coasts of Bangladesh and West Bengal.

The IMD has forecast wind speeds reaching 110-120 kilometres per hour (kmph) gusting up to 135 kmph at landfall. Extremely heavy rainfall is expected in the coastal districts of West Bengal and north Odisha on May 26-27.

A storm surge of up to 1.5 metres is forecast to inundate low-lying areas of coastal West Bengal and Bangladesh during landfall.

The weather office has warned fishermen to stay out of the north Bay of Bengal until the morning of May 27.

The IMD issued a red alert for West Bengal’s coastal districts of South and North 24 Parganas. An orange alert has been issued for Kolkata, Howrah, Nadia, and Purba Medinipur districts.

The Odisha government has alerted authorities in four coastal districts – Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, and Mayurbhanj – to remain prepared for the storm’s impact. Wind speeds of 40-50 kmph with heavy to very heavy rain are expected in these districts, stated the IMD.