Flight operations will be delayed for 21 hours, from 12 p.m. sunday to 9 a.m. Monday, as West bengal prepares for the impact of Cyclone 'Remal'. After a discussion with stakeholders, the kolkata airport officials announced the suspension of flight operations.
The meteorological service has issued an orange signal for kolkata on May 26 and 27. An orange signal denotes very heavy rain ranging from 11 cm to 20 cm, but a red alert suggests heavy to extremely heavy rain totaling more than 20 cm in 24 hours.
A low-pressure system in the Bay of bengal has strengthened into cyclonic storm Remal, which is likely to make landfall between West Bengal's Sagar Island and Bangladesh's Khepupara at midnight on sunday, according to the india Meteorological Department (IMD).
On May 26 and 27, West bengal and north Odisha's coastal areas are expected to get extremely severe rains.
During landfall in bengal, a storm surge of up to 1.5 metres is expected to flood low-lying coastal regions. Fishermen have been cautioned to avoid the north Bay of bengal till the morning of May 27.
The IMD issued a red alert for West Bengal's coastal districts of South and North 24 Parganas, warning of heavy to very heavy rain and wind speeds of 80-90 kmph with gusts up to 100 kmph on May 26 and 27. An orange signal has been issued for kolkata, Howrah, Nadia, and Purba Medinipur districts, indicating heavy rain with wind speeds of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph.
Remal is the first pre-monsoon cyclone to hit the Bay of bengal this season.