Cyclone to Hit Bengal Coast Today, Heavy Rain Alert from Mizoram to Bihar, Kolkata Airport to be Shut for 21 Hours

A cyclone alert has been issued for Cyclone Remal. The cyclone, which has formed in the Bay of Bengal, is expected to make landfall between Sagar Island in West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh tonight, Sunday. According to the meteorological department, this cyclonic storm may hit the coast with wind speeds of 110-120 km/h. During this time, sea waves up to 1.5 meters high are expected, potentially inundating low-lying areas of coastal West Bengal and Bangladesh. The weather department has advised fishermen not to venture into the northern part of the Bay of Bengal until the morning of May 27. The impact of Cyclone Remal is likely to cause rain from West Bengal and Odisha to Mizoram and Bihar.

**Kolkata Airport to be Shut for 21 Hours**

Due to Cyclone Remal, Kolkata Airport will be closed for 21 hours. Flight operations will be suspended from Sunday noon at 12 PM to Monday morning at 9 AM. The Indian Coast Guard has deployed nine disaster relief teams at sea. Additionally, 12 NDRF teams have been deployed in Bengal.

**Strong Winds Expected**

The meteorological department predicts heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of northern Odisha—Balasore, Bhadrak, and Kendrapara—today and tomorrow. Heavy rain is also expected in Mayurbhanj on May 27. Light to heavy rain is forecasted in most places in Mizoram, Tripura, and southern Manipur on May 26. On May 27 and 28, light rain is expected in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, and Tripura. Some parts of Bihar are also likely to experience rain. Due to Cyclone Remal, all cargo and container handling operations at Syama Prasad Mukherjee Port in Bengal will be halted for 12 hours from 6 PM on Sunday. The weather department has issued warnings of wind speeds of 100-110 km/h in South 24 Parganas and 90-110 km/h in North 24 Parganas on May 26-27. An orange alert has been issued for Kolkata, Howrah, Nadia, and East Midnapore districts.

**Warning for Eight Districts in Tripura**

The Tripura government has issued an alert in all eight districts following warnings of heavy to very heavy rainfall, strong winds, and storms over the next 48 hours. Additional Secretary (Revenue) Tamal Mazumdar stated that due to the impact of the cyclone, heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected in the state until May 28. On May 26, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in different parts of South Tripura, Gomati, Dhalai, Sepahijala, and West Tripura districts.

**Mamata Government Sets Up Control Room**

The Bengal government held a high-level meeting on Saturday to review preparations for dealing with the cyclone. Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba also reviewed the state’s preparedness with officials via video conferencing.

**Heavy Rain in Kerala**

Meanwhile, heavy rain continues to affect normal life in Kerala. Several houses have been damaged, and roads have been submerged.