All flights to and from Kolkata cancelled for 21 hours

In anticipation of Cyclone Remal, Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport will suspend flight operations for 21 hours starting from Sunday noon. This decision follows a meeting with stakeholders, where it was concluded that heavy winds and significant rainfall in Kolkata would make flight operations unsafe. The suspension will last from 12:00 IST on May 26 to 09:00 IST on May 27. Additionally, Kolkata Port will halt all cargo and container handling operations for 12 hours from 6 PM on Sunday to 6 AM on Monday, as reported by PTI citing port authorities.

Cyclone Remal developed from a low-pressure area observed on May 22 in the Bay of Bengal. The cyclone is currently located in the central Bay of Bengal and is expected to affect regions including West Bengal, Coastal Bangladesh, Tripura, and parts of northeastern India. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts the cyclone will make landfall around midnight on May 26, between Sagar Island in West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh. At landfall, a storm surge of up to 1.5 meters is anticipated, potentially inundating low-lying areas.

Thousands of residents from coastal villages in West Bengal are expected to be evacuated to cyclone shelters. The IMD has issued a red warning for districts including South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Kolkata, Howrah, and East Midnapore.