At least 16 people have died after Cyclone Remal struck coastal areas of India and southern Bangladesh.
The cyclone brought gales of 110 km/h, torrential rain, and tidal surges, leading to flooding in low-lying regions.
Nearly one million people were evacuated as the cyclone made landfall on Sunday evening, affecting approximately 8.4 million residents, including 3.6 million children.
The storm passed through the Bangladeshi port of Mongla and the Sagar Islands of West Bengal, India, on Sunday, weakening the following day.
According to Mohibbur Rahman, Bangladesh’s minister for disaster, at least 10 people died from causes such as drowning and collapsing houses.
Rahman reported, “A total of 3.75 million people have been affected… 35,483 homes were destroyed by the cyclone, and another 115,992 homes were damaged.”
In India, Sumit Gupta, a senior West Bengal state official, confirmed the deaths of at least six civilians, including three who were electrocuted.
The cyclone caused widespread destruction, uprooting trees, damaging power lines, and flattening mud huts.
Strong winds also blew the roofs off some tin and thatched houses.
Prior to the cyclone’s arrival, nearly three million people in Bangladesh had their electricity shut off to prevent accidents.
West Bengal authorities reported at least 1,200 power poles were uprooted. Rahat Raja from Bangladesh’s Satkhira district told Reuters, “We have had no electricity since night, my mobile battery will run out any time.”
The cyclone also created food shortages in some areas. Mohammed Ali from Bagerhat described the situation: “There are no vehicles available on the road. There are shortages of food also. All shops are closed since yesterday.”
Cox’s Bazar, home to nearly a million Rohingya refugees in temporary shelters, faced risks of landslides and flooding.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) trained volunteers to relocate people in high-risk areas, while Save the Children dispatched four emergency response teams, including a medical team, to support recovery efforts.
The charity’s country director Shumon Sengupta stated, “This cyclone shows yet again how vulnerable Bangladesh is to extreme weather events.”
Bangladesh, highly susceptible to climate change impacts, frequently experiences extreme weather, including heatwaves and flooding.
Authorities in both countries had days to prepare for Cyclone Remal as it moved across the Bay of Bengal. In Kolkata, over 50 flights were canceled on Sunday but have since resumed.
In May 2023, the Bay of Bengal was hit by its most powerful cyclone in over a decade, affecting thousands in Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Source-BBC
