KATHMANDU: At least 16 people have died after Cyclone Remal struck coastal parts of India and southern Bangladesh. The cyclone brought strong winds of 110 km/h, heavy rainfall, and tidal surges, leading to widespread flooding in low-lying areas. Nearly a million people were evacuated as the cyclone made landfall on Sunday evening, affecting approximately 8.4 million people, including 3.6 million children. The storm weakened after passing through the Bangladeshi port of Mongla and the Sagar Islands of West Bengal, India.
In Bangladesh, Disaster Minister Mohibbur Rahman reported that at least 10 people died due to the cyclone, with some victims drowning and others being crushed by collapsing houses. The cyclone affected 3.75 million people, destroyed 35,483 homes, and damaged another 115,992 homes. In West Bengal, India, at least six civilians were confirmed dead, including three who were electrocuted. The cyclone also caused extensive damage to homes, uprooted trees, and disrupted power lines, leaving nearly three million people in Bangladesh without electricity.
Authorities in both countries took preventive measures ahead of the cyclone, with significant evacuations and power shutdowns to prevent accidents. In the aftermath, relief efforts have been mobilized, with organizations like the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent and Save the Children sending emergency response teams to the affected areas. The cyclone highlighted the ongoing vulnerability of Bangladesh to extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change, with the country frequently experiencing severe weather impacts ranging from heatwaves to flooding.
