NEW DELHI: The first cyclone of the year, Remal, has already claimed the lives of 16 individuals in West Bengal and Bangladesh after making landfall near the Bay of Bengal on Monday morning, according to media reports. Dozens were injured due to the heavy downpour in coastal areas of Bangladesh and West Bengal, and significant damage was reported to power lines.
Weather officials reported that the storm, with speeds of up to 135 kph, crossed the region around Bangladesh’s southern port of Mongla and the adjoining Sagar Islands in West Bengal late Sunday, making landfall around 9 pm.
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Media reports cited that at least 10 people were killed in Bangladesh, while the remaining casualties were reported from West Bengal. Authorities noted that some victims died en route to relief shelters, while others perished due to drowning or the collapse of their homes from heavy waterlogging and storms.
In West Bengal, four people were electrocuted, bringing the state’s death toll to six, authorities said. The storms also damaged power lines, leaving several coastal areas without electricity.
Nearly three million people in Bangladesh and thousands in West Bengal were left without power due to Cyclone Remal. Bengal authorities reported that at least 1,200 power poles were uprooted and 300 mud huts were destroyed.
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In anticipation of the cyclone, Bangladesh preemptively shut down the electricity supply to certain areas to prevent accidents. Fallen trees and broken electricity lines further disrupted power in many coastal towns, according to power ministry officials.
Heavy rains on May 27 led to flooding in the streets of Kolkata, with multiple wall collapses and at least 52 fallen trees reported. Kolkata resumed flights after more than 50 were canceled since Sunday, and suburban train services were also restored.
Both India and Bangladesh moved at least 1 million people to relief shelters amid heavy rains and rising water levels in coastal areas, causing significant disruptions to daily life.