Cyclone Remal depression to weaken over eastern Assam

NEW DELHI: Cyclone Remal, which has reportedly claimed over 15 lives and injured several others, is expected to weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area over eastern Assam and its surrounding regions by Tuesday evening, May 28.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the depression, a remnant of cyclonic storm "Remal," is expected to weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area over eastern Assam and its surrounding regions by this evening.

"The Depression (remnant of Cyclonic Storm "Remal") over east Bangladesh moved nearly northeastwards with a speed of 16 kmph during the past 6 hours and lay centred at 1130 hours IST of today, May 28, 2024, over northeast Bangladesh and adjoining Meghalaya, near latitude 25.1°N and longitude 91.8°E, about 90 km north of Srimangal (Bangladesh), 20 km south-southeast of Cherrapunji, 150 km north-northeast of Agartala, 50 km south of Shillong, 110 km west-northwest of Silchar (Assam) and 120 km west of Haflong," said the IMD.

"The system is likely to move nearly northeastward and weaken into a well-low-pressure area over Eastern Assam and the neighbourhood by the evening of today, May 28, 2024," it said.

As per reports, Cyclone Remal, the first major cyclonic storm of the year, has killed 16 people across Bangladesh and India after it made landfall near the coast of the Bay of Bengal.

Meanwhile, a person was killed and 17 people sustained injuries in Assam due to heavy rains accompanied by strong winds after Cyclone Remal in several parts of the state, officials said on Tuesday.

Officials of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority confirmed the death of one person.

Several districts of Assam were put on high alert in the wake of a forecast for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall under the impact of Cyclone Remal, which made landfall in neighbouring West Bengal and Bangladesh.

The Haflong-Silchar link road was cut off as a large portion of the road has been washed away due to rising river waters following heavy rains in Dima Hasao district.

According to officials from Assam State Disaster Management Authority, 11 districts, including Kamrup, Nagaon, Sonitpur, and Morigaon, have been significantly affected by the cyclone.

In Morigaon alone, one person died and four others were injured due to the heavy rains, while in the Dhekiajuli area of Sonitpur district, a falling tree branch injured 12 students from Usha English School when it struck their school bus.

All injured students were promptly rescued, taken to the hospital for treatment and are under medical supervision.

Numerous reports of fallen trees have emerged from districts like Kamrup and Nagaon, particularly in areas such as Palashbari, Chaygaon, and Boko Revenue Circle.

According to the district administration, the water level of many rivers has increased due to incessant rainfall and several landslide incidents have also been reported.

Amid the ongoing storms and relentless rain, teams from the State Disaster Response Force, along with police and forest department officials, are continuously working to improve the situation.

Cyclonic storm Remal made its landfall in Bangladesh's coastal area on Sunday night.

The cyclone 'Remal' has moved nearly northward with a speed of 15 kmph over coastal Bangladesh and adjoining coastal West Bengal.

The severe cyclonic storm 'Remal' has weakened since making landfall last night and is expected to downgrade into a deep depression by the evening, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) announced on Monday.