Cyclone Remal intensifies into severe cyclonic storm, to hit Bengal tonight

Cyclone 'Remal' has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and is expected to make landfall between West Bengal's Sagar Island and Bangladesh's Khepupara on Sunday night, the IMD said. This is the first cyclone in the Bay of Bengal this pre-monsoon season. Cyclone 'Remal' over the north Bay of Bengal intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and was centred approximately 290 km south-southeast of Khepupara and 270 km south-southeast of Sagar Island, according to an update issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) at 8 am on Sunday. It is likely to intensify further and cross the West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara with wind speeds of 110 to 120 kmph, gusting to 135 kmph around midnight, the IMD said. Other models show that the cyclone may hit the coasts by late evening. The Met office has warned of extremely heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of West Bengal and north Odisha on Sunday. Parts of northeast India may also ...