Kolkata: The India Meteorological Department has issued a ‘red’ warning in south Bengal, including Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, East Medinipur, Howrah and Hooghly districts for rain and winds on May 26 and 27, as the Cyclone Remal advances towards land, over the Bay of Bengal.
Flight operations at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport have been suspended till 9 am on May 27 “due to predicted heavy winds and heavy to very heavy rainfall at Kolkata,” the airport authorities have announced.
The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm by the morning of May 26 and cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara by midnight of May 26 midnight. It is likely to have a wind speed if of 110-120 gusting to 135 kmph.
A storm surge of about 1 metre above astronomical tide is likely to inundate low lying areas of coastal Bengal and around the time of landfall.
The IMD has issued a red alert for fisherfolk, who were advised not to venture into the sea along and off the Bengal coast and the deep sea area of the Bay of Bengal – areas highlighted by the IMD-issued map above – till May 27.
