A devastating cyclone has swept through coastal villages, cutting off electricity to hundreds of thousands in India and Bangladesh overnight, and leading to the evacuation of 800,000 people. Authorities in Bangladesh have evacuated nearly 800,000 individuals due to the cyclone. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported on Monday that cyclone "Remal" began striking the country's southern coast on Sunday evening, and it is expected to take between 5 to 6 hours to cross the vast coastal area. Television stations have reported that dozens of coastal villages in Bangladesh have been flooded, and many flood protection embankments have been washed away or damaged due to the strength of the storms.
A report from the "Somoy" television channel in the capital Dhaka indicated that seven people have died. The channel also stated that two others are missing after a boat overturned in southwestern Bangladesh. Meteorologists expect moderate to heavy rainfall in the coastal areas of West Bengal in India. The cyclone is anticipated to inundate low-lying coastal areas.
Bangladesh's Minister of State for Disaster Management and Relief, Mohibul Rahman, stated that volunteers have been deployed to transport evacuees to nearly 9,000 cyclone shelters. The government has also closed all schools in the region until further notice. Kolkata Airport in India closed its doors on Monday, while Bangladesh closed the airport in Chattogram, located in the southeastern part of the country, and canceled all domestic flights to and from Cox's Bazar. "Remal" is the first cyclone to strike the Bay of Bengal ahead of this year's monsoon season, which runs from June to September.
