West Bengal: IMD issues Orange alert for Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, East Midnapore, Nadia, North and South 24 Parganas districts

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], May 26 (ANI): IMD Alipore has issued Orange alert for Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, East Midnapore, Nadia, North and South 24 parganas districts of West Bengal for the next three hours ahead of landfall of cyclone Remal at Sagar Islands (Sundarbans) on Sunday midnight.
"Rain with one or two intense spells (2-3 cm/hr) with strong surface wind (50-60 Kmph) very likely to occur over Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, East Midnapore, Nadia, North and South 24 Parganas districts. People are advised to take shelter in safe place," IMD Alipore said.
IMD Alipore said that Kolkata has experienced 023.9 mm of rainfall since last 24 hours.
IMD Alipore in a special bulletin said, "The Severe Cyclonic Storm "Remal" (pronounced as "Re-Mal") over the North Bay of Bengal moved nearly northwards, with a speed of 13 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centered at 1430 hrs IST of today, the 26th May, 2024 over the same region near latitude 20.6°N and longitude 89.2°E about 160 km southeast of Sagar Islands (West Bengal), 180 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), 190 km south-southeast of Canning (West Bengal) and 220 km south of Mongla (Bangladesh)."
Currently maximum sustained wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph prevails around the cyclone centre, IMD said.
IMD Alipore further said, "It is very likely to continue to move nearly northwards, intensify further and cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara, close to southwest of Mongla (Bangladesh) by midnight of today, the 26th May 2024 as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph."
IMD said that light to moderate rainfall very likely at most places over the districts during May 27 to 29.
India Meteorological Department has announced that Cyclone Remal will intensify into a severe cyclonic storm in the next six hours and will cross between Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal on Sunday midnight.
"The CS "Remal" over North BoB about 290 km S SE of Sagar Islands(WB) 300 km S SW of Khepupara(Bangladesh) and 320 km S SE of Canning (WB). To intensify into a severe cyclonic storm in next 06 hours and cross between Bangladesh and adjoining WB coasts around 26 midnight as SCS," the IMD posted on X on Sunday morning. (ANI)