Six people were killed across several districts of West Bengal and affected normal life was severely affected as cyclone ‘Remal’ left behind a trail of destruction in districts of south Bengal.
One person was killed in Kolkata when roof of a structure collapse in Entally area and an elderly woman died at Mousuni Island, located at the mouth of Bay of Bengal when a tree fell on her house. Two persons of a same family — father and son — died at Purba Bardhaman due to electrocution, whereas a youth died of electrocution in North 24 Parganas. Later in the evening a woman died of electrocution in Kolkata’s Metiabruz area.
The weather formation had started a landfall on Sunday night gradually weakened into a cyclonic storm on Monday morning and on Monday evening further weakened into Deep Depression.
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A preliminary report by the West Bengal government said that more than two lakh people were evacuated to safer places. The wind speed reached on Sunday evening 120 kmph over Sagar Island located close the point of landfall. The State government said 1,700 electric poles were damaged and many trees were uprooted in North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts. The report stated that about 2,500 houses are reported to be fully damaged and 27,000 partly damaged will be provided compensation after verification.
Kolkata recorded 144 mm rainfall in the 24 hours till 8.30 am on Monday resulting in wide spread waterlogging. Several trees were uprooted in the metropolis and adjoining coastal regions. Other places in south Bengal which received heavy rainfall during the period are Haldia (110 mm), Tamluk (70 mm) and Nimpith (70 mm). Meanwhile, flights resumed at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on May 27 morning. The airport services were suspended for almost 20 hours.
The cyclone Remal brought back memories of super cyclone Amphan that has battered south Bengal in May 2020.
A commuter at a railway station during rain in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal’s landfall, in Kolkata on May 27, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee while acknowledging the damage by cyclone Remal said that due to the actions of the State administration, the loss of life this time is relatively less.
“Our Municipalities – Panchayats also have the credit of moving the poor people to 1400 camps in safe places. For this I express my sincere thanks to all the state and local administrations,” she posted on social media.
In the Sundarbans, there has been minor breach of embankments in several places in the coastal areas South 24 Parganas. Locals at several places in the Sundarbans took it upon themselves to repair embankments and clear roads. The water from sea and river entered the agricultural fields and bheries (shallow fish ponds).
Even as the severe cyclonic storm Remal has weakened into deep depression the weather office has issued orange alert and predicted heavy (7–11 cm) to very heavy rain (12 - 20 cm) is very likely at one or two places over North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly Kolkata Nadia, Murshidabad districts.
The IMD has predicted surface wind with speed reaching 50 to 60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph likely over North and South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, Nadia and Murshidabad; reaching 40 to 50 kmph likely over Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly.
Politics over cyclone
Meanwhile, since elections in Kolkata are scheduled on June 1, candidates across political parties were seen reaching out to the people. Dum Dum Lok Sabha MP and Trinamool Congress candidate from the seat Saugata Roy was seen helping in clearing water logging and driving a heavy earthmoving vehicle to remove a chimney that has crushed several vehicles parked under it in city’s Baranagar area.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership dubbed these activities as “photo-opportunity”. Sharing the video of veteran TMC MP Saugata Roy using a bamboo to clear water logging, BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari questioned the poor civic infrastructure in the city for a party that has been in power for 13 years and managing the Municipal Corporation for 15 years.
