The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): On May 27, Cyclone Remal, the first major cyclone of the year, struck the coastlines of India and Bangladesh, resulting in the deaths of at least 16 people and leaving millions without electricity. The storm brought strong gales and heavy rains, causing widespread damage and overwhelming drainage systems.
Bangladeshi climate expert Liakath Ali reported that many people were stranded as night fell, facing another night without electricity or shelter. “Many people are stranded – it will be another long night ahead with millions not having electricity or shelter,” he stated.
Cyclone Remal, with wind speeds up to 135 kph, made landfall near Bangladesh’s southern port of Mongla and the adjoining Sagar Islands in India’s West Bengal at about 9 p.m. on Sunday.
UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh, Sheldon Yett, highlighted the high health, nutrition, sanitation, and safety risks for more than 8.4 million people, including 3.2 million children.
In Bangladesh, disaster management chief Mijanur Rahman confirmed the deaths of at least 10 people, attributing the fatalities to en route incidents to shelters, collapsing structures, and drowning. He noted that reluctance to leave homes and livestock until the last moment often led to such tragedies.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Mohibbur Rahman reported that the cyclone destroyed nearly 35,000 homes and partially damaged another 115,000 across 19 districts. Many areas remain waterlogged, with fish enclosures and trees devastated.
In West Bengal, India, authorities confirmed that four people were electrocuted, bringing the state’s death toll to six. The state witnessed extensive damage, with at least 1,200 power poles uprooted and 300 mud huts destroyed.
Bangladesh preemptively shut down electricity in some areas to prevent accidents, but fallen trees and snapped lines further disrupted power supply, leaving nearly 3 million people without electricity. Extensive damage to telecom infrastructure left millions without mobile service.
The Sundarbans, home to the world’s largest mangrove forests, were flooded, causing significant ecological and economic damage. Flooded roads in Dhaka and Kolkata disrupted travel, with reports of wall collapses and fallen trees. Kolkata resumed flights after more than 50 were canceled, and suburban train services were restored.
Both nations evacuated nearly a million people to storm shelters, with about 800,000 in Bangladesh and roughly 110,000 in India.
As repairs continue, authorities urge patience and resilience in the face of this natural disaster. The full scope of the impact is still being assessed, with ongoing efforts to restore normalcy and provide aid to affected communities.
