“The depression over east central Bay of Bengal moved north-northeastwards at a speed of 8 kmph for six hours and lay centered at 5.30 pm Friday, about 650km south of Khepupara, 620km south-southeast of Sagar Islands and 670km south of Canning,” read a statement issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
This is the first cyclone in the Bay of Bengal this pre-monsoon season and will be named Remal, given by Oman, according to a system of naming cyclones in the north Indian Ocean region.
The Met department has issued a red alert for coastal districts of South and North 24 Parganas district and warned of 100-110 kmph wind speed on Sunday and 90-100 kmph on Monday, leading to extremely heavy rainfall at one or two places on both days.
An orange alert was issued for Kolkata, Howrah, Nadia and Purba Medinipur districts by the Met, warning of 80 to 90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph wind speed, accompanied by heavy rain on the two days. The weather office has also forecast heavy rain in Paschim Medinipur, Purba Bardhaman and Nadia districts on the two days due to the cyclonic situation. Two parliamentary constituencies – Kanthi and Tamluk – falling in Purba Medinipur district will go to polls on Saturday during the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said all preemptive initiatives have been instituted by the Coast Guard Region (North East) to ensure there’s no loss of life and property at sea. “The concerned state administration and stakeholders have been alerted. Information on the developing situation has been shared with stakeholders for a synergised response to meet all possible contingency,” said the ICG in a statement.
The ICG said that regular alerts were being broadcasted through its remote operating stations from Haldia and Paradip for transiting merchant mariners. ICG ships and aircraft are carrying out surveillance and all vessels have been alerted for needful actions at their end. “Fisheries department has been cautioned though fishing ban is in force to alert country boats in their respective areas. The Bangladesh Coast Guard has been informed for instituting needful preparation and to alert fishermen and merchants. ICG ships and aircrafts are kept at immediate notice to undertake search and rescue missions. Nine disaster relief teams have been kept on standby at Haldia, Paradip, Gopalpur and Frazerganj for immediate assistance,” the statement added.
In view of the situation, a meeting was convened by the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport Director on Friday convened a meeting with all stakeholders and briefed them about the situation. “He also informed that the wind speed is likely to be 50 – 60 knots on the projected path of the cyclone. Another meeting will be held on Saturday to ensure full preparedness to tackle the situation,” said an airport official.