Cyclone Remal: IMD sounds red alert for two districts of Tripura

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for two districts of Tripura-Sepahijala and Gumati in anticipation of heavy to very heavy rainfall and strong winds due to cyclone Remal on Monday. Additionally, an orange alert has been sounded for the South, Dhalai, North, Khowai, Unakoti, and West districts of Tripura, predicting heavy rainfall on May 28.According to IMD, Tripura's West district recorded 59.5 mm on Monday, followed by Dhalai (54.5 mm), South district (48.0 mm), Sipahijala district (42.0 mm), Khowai district (34.5 mm), Gomati district (33.0 mm), Unakoti district (27.4 mm) and North district (27.0 mm).

The Cyclonic Storm 'Remal' over Coastal Bangladesh and adjoining coastal West Bengal moved nearly northwards, with a speed of 8 Kmph during the past six hours and lay centered at 1130 hrs IST of today over Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal, IMD said in its bulletin. Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha urged residents to stay vigilant. He also said that state and district administrations are fully prepared to deal with the cyclone.  In a post on X, Saha on Sunday said, " Dear Tripura residents, You are aware that under the influence of Cyclone 'Remal', moderate to heavy rainfall with gale force winds is expected in various districts of the state. State and district administrations are fully prepared to deal with this calamity. I appeal to the people of the state to exercise utmost caution.

"Meanwhile, neighbouring Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Cyclone Remal can bring inclement weather in parts of Assam. We are taking several precautionary measures. NDRF & SDRF teams are on standby, control rooms are operational and we are deploying a whole government approach to keep our citizens safe.

Stay safe and please cooperate with your local administration. " Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting to review the preparedness for the cyclone, asking the Union Home Ministry to monitor the situation and take a review after the cyclone's landfall to extend necessary assistance for restoration. During the meeting at his 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence, the Prime Minister instructed that apart from 12 National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) teams that have already been deployed in West Bengal and one in Odisha, more teams be kept on standby to move within an hour, a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.