International Desk

A red alert has been sounded by the India Meteorological Department for coastal districts of South and North 24 Parganas in West Bengal state for 26-27 May when extremely heavy rain is expected in some areas due to severe cyclonic storm Remal.

An orange alert has been sounded for Kolkata, Howrah, Nadia, and Purba Medinipur districts, warning of wind speeds of 80km to 90km per hour, gusting to 100km per hour.

The authorities of Kolkata airport have decided to suspend flight operations for 21 hours from Sunday noon in view of the possible impact of cyclone Remal, an official said here.

A total of 394 flights, arrival and departure, in both international and domestic sectors would not operate to and from the airport during the flight suspension period, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) spokesperson said.

Remal is likely to hit Sagar Islands in South 24 Parganas district by Sunday midnight with a maximum sustained wind speed of 110-120km per hour gusting to 135km per hour, the Met department said.

The severe cyclone is set to bring extremely heavy rain in the coastal districts of West Bengal and heavy to very heavy rain in Kolkata and its adjoining areas.

The Indian railways cancelled some trains with routes in South and North 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur districts as a precautionary measure, officials said.

The Indian Navy has initiated preparatory actions to mount a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) response in the aftermath of cyclone Remal, an official statement said.

The navy has readied two ships equipped with HADR and medical supplies for immediate deployment to ensure the safety and welfare of the cyclone-affected populace. Additionally, Indian Naval aviation assets, including Sea King and Chetak helicopters as well as Dornier aircraft, are on standby for rapid response.

Specialised teams of divers with equipment have been stationed in Kolkata to provide prompt assistance and more teams are on standby. Two Flood Relief Teams (FRTs), along with HADR and medical supplies, are being positioned in Kolkata. In addition, two FRTs each from Visakhapatnam and Chilka are on standby for deployment at short notice.