Kolkata/Dhaka:The death toll in Cyclone Remal, the first major severe storm of the season this year, rose to 16 dead in Bangladesh and India as it made a landfall in Bangladesh’s coastal area on Sunday night.
In West Bengal, six people died as widespread devastation gripped coastal areas of the state on Monday, a day after the severe cyclonic storm made its landfall, unleashing winds up to 135 kilometres per hour. The cyclone wreaked havoc along the coasts of the state and Bangladesh, stretching from Sagar Island to Khepupara, near the southwest of Mongla in the neighbouring country.
SK Sajid, 48, a resident of Bibi Bagan died after a portion of his house collapsed and fell on him. Sajid went out in search of his son but was hit by the cornice when he returned home. He was taken to NRS hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead.
An eldery woman in the Mousuni Island near Namkhana adjacent to the Sunderbans delta also succumbed to injuries on Monday morning, following a tree collapse on her hut that resulted in the roof caving in, the official said.
The landfall, commencing at 8:30 pm on Sunday, inflicted extensive damage to infrastructure and property. The aftermath of 'Remal' revealed roofs torn off thatched huts, trees uprooted, and electric poles toppled, causing significant disruptions across various parts of the state, including Kolkata.
Reports of waterlogging added to the misery of affected residents as heavy rains persisted into Monday morning, inundating homes and farmlands. Incidents of injuries surfaced, with one person in the Gosaba area of the Sundarbans injured by debris and another hurt in Kolkata's Bibir Bagan area due to a collapsing wall amidst relentless downpour.
The West Bengal government evacuated over one lakh people from vulnerable areas ahead of the cyclone's landfall. This effort was focused primarily in the South 24 Parganas district, including Sagar Island, Sundarbans and Kakdwip. Districts such as North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore reported widespread damage.
Digha, a coastal resort town, witnessed tidal waves breaching a seawall, engulfing fishing boats, houses, and farmlands. Despite ongoing efforts to restore normalcy, including clearing debris and restoring power, the relentless heavy rains continue to hamper operations.
The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but preliminary reports indicate a prolonged recovery process from this devastating natural disaster. The state government has mobilized relief measures, providing essential supplies such as food, drinking water, and medical assistance to affected populations.
Authorities are urging residents to remain indoors and take necessary precautions amid the persistent heavy rains. Districts in the southern part of the state recorded light to moderate rainfall, with Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas receiving 68.4 mm and Kanthi in Purba Medinipur district 58 mm in the 24 hours till 5.30 pm on Sunday.
To aid in relief efforts, fourteen National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were deployed across affected districts in South Bengal, along with State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams and trained civil defense volunteers.
Disruptions in transportation were evident, with air, rail, and road services severely affected in Kolkata and other parts of southern Bengal. The Eastern and South Eastern Railways cancelled several trains for Sunday and Monday, while flight operations at Kolkata airport remained suspended for 21 hours from Sunday noon, affecting a total of 394 flights across international and domestic sectors.