PM Modi chairs meeting to review preparedness for cyclone Remal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a highlevel meeting to review response and preparedness for cyclonic storm Remal reported the PTICyclone Remal is likely to reportedly make landfall between Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts around midnightThe severe cyclone has led to heavy rains in the coastal districts of West Bengal and in KolkataAccording to the PTI PM Modi chaired the meeting to review the response and preparedness for cyclone Remal sources saidCyclone Remal is very likely to move nearly northwards intensify further and cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara by Sunday midnight as a severe cyclonic storm with the maximum sustained wind speed of 110120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph the weather office said as per the PTIKolkata airport authorities have suspended flight operations for 21 hours from Sunday noon Additionally the Eastern and South Eastern railways cancelled several trainsState authorities have evacuated approximately 110 lakh people from coastal regions including the Sundarbans and Sagar Island to secure shelters a senior official said in KolkataTo bolster rescue and relief efforts 16 battalions each from the state disaster management and NDRF have been deployed in the coastal areas the official addedOver 1 lakh shifted to sheltersCyclonic storm Remal has intensified prompting the evacuation of over 1 lakh people from vulnerable areas of the state to safetyBengals coastal areas have been put on high alert as the cyclone accompanied by highvelocity winds has already triggered rain in several parts of the stateAccording to an India Meteorological Department IMD bulletin the Remal was centred 160 km southsoutheast of Sagar Island at 6pmThe cyclone which has a maximum sustained wind speed of 100110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph is likely to hit land between Sagar Islands in West Bengal and Khepupara near Mongla port in Bangladesh by Sunday midnight officials said the news agency reported on SundayBy 3 pm the West Bengal government had evacuated around 110 lakh people from coastal and vulnerable areas and shifted them to cyclone shelters schools and collegesPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a meeting to review response and preparedness for cyclonic storm RemalState minister Akhil Giri said Our experience in tackling Cyclone Amphan and Cyclone Yaas will be put to good useWest Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose said he is closely monitoring the situation and is in constant touch with state and central experts to ensure a coordinated response to counter itBose emphasised the importance of safety for residents in the coastal regions of Bengal urging them to adhere to the standard operating procedures SOPs for cyclonesThe cyclone has already caused light rain and winds in areas like Digha Kakdwip and Jaynagar which are expected to intensify on MondayIMDs eastern regional head Somnath Dutta said from Sunday evening districts in south Bengal would experience squally winds of 4555 kmph gusting to 65 kmph affecting Kolkata Howrah Hooghly and Purba MedinipurThis will gradually increase to gale wind speed reaching 70 to 80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph he told reporters according to the PTIwith PTI inputs