In anticipation of Cyclone Remal, Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport will suspend flight operations for 21 hours starting from Sunday noon. This proactive measure aims to ensure safety amid forecasts of severe weather conditions.
“Due to Cyclone Remal’s impact on the coastal region of West Bengal, including Kolkata, flight operations will be suspended from 1200 IST on May 26 to 0900 IST on May 27,” announced NSCBI airport director C Pattabhi. The decision follows a stakeholder meeting addressing the cyclone’s potential effects.
Kolkata Port will also halt all cargo and container handling operations for 12 hours starting Sunday evening. According to port authorities, operations will be suspended from 6 pm on Sunday until 6 am on Monday. This step is taken to mitigate risks associated with the expected severe weather.
Initially observed as a low-pressure area on May 22 in the Bay of Bengal, the system has intensified into Cyclone Remal, currently located in the central Bay of Bengal. The affected regions will likely include West Bengal, Coastal Bangladesh, Tripura, and parts of the northeastern states. The cyclone is expected to make landfall around midnight on May 26 between Sagar Island in West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts that Cyclone Remal will bring a storm surge of up to 1.5 meters, potentially inundating low-lying coastal areas. Thousands are being evacuated to cyclone shelters in West Bengal, with 115 shelters in South 24 Parganas and over 100 in North 24 Parganas prepared for the storm.
Warnings have also been issued for northeastern states, including Tripura, Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur, which may experience heavy rainfall and strong winds. Tripura has issued an advisory warning of severe weather from May 25 to 28. Bangladesh is also preparing, with nearly 4,000 shelters equipped with food and water ready for the storm’s impact.