Kolkata, Nov 9 (UNI) "Bulbul" will cross West Bengal-Bangladesh coast between
Sagar Island and Khepupara by late evening/night on Saturday with a speed of
110-120 kmph as a severe cyclonic storm.
Its impact has already been causing moderate to heavy rainfall since Friday
afternoon in Kolkata and south Bengal.
" Cyclone Bulbul is about to pass through Bengal. Our State Administration is
closely monitoring the situation 24×7, " Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee informed.
" We are taking all measures to tackle any contingency. Special Control Rooms
have been set up and NDRF-SDRF teams are deployed, " Ms Banerjee tweeted.
"Schools, colleges and anganwadi centres have been closed and more than
1 lac 20 thousand people have already been rescued from the vulnerable coastal
areas," she said.
"Please do not panic. Kindly remain calm and co-operate with the administration
in its rescue and relief efforts. Be alert, take care and stay safe. #WBFightsCyclone
Bulbul," Ms Banerjee added.
" Due to impact of #CycloneBulbul with strong cross winds & likely wind shear in
approaches, flight operations at #KolkataAirport will be discontinued from 1800 IST
today upto 0600 IST on 10.11.2019. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience
caused, " according to Airport Authority of India (AAI) official.
Rainfall will increase as the cyclone approaches the coast. The storm is likely to
hit the landmass at a speed of 110-120 kilometre per hour, accompanied by gusty
winds at 135 km per hour and might continue for the next 12 hours.
Its maximum impact is likely to be felt in places like East Midnapore, North and
South 24 Parganas and Howrah.
The storm has been gaining speed since and is likely to make landfall sometimes
after the evening today, Alipore weather office said.
Damage to crops, huts, power and phone lines, embankments etc is feared. Trees
are likely to be uprooted as well.
The Meteorological Department has issued alert asking the state to take measures
to suspend fishing in coastal areas, ferry services and shifting the coastal hut dwellers
to safety.
Around 84,000 people from coastal areas have been moved to safety.
The West Bengal government has declared holiday for educational institutions as a
precautionary measure in view of the cyclonic storm.
High alerts have already been sounded in all coastal districts of the state, including
south and north 24 Parganas, Midnapore and other districts as necessary measures
have been taken by the local administration.
Fishing in all the water bodies have been prohibited and police continued miking to
alert the people in all coastal districts.
Meanwhile, low cost airlines IndiGo today suspended 23 flights from Dum Dum airport
in view of fury of Bulbul, hours after Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) suspended shipping at
the Kidderpore dock system as well as Haldia dock system till further order.
IndiGo suspended its flights to Ranchi, Patna, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Raipur, Chennai,
Jaipur and other cities for the day due to stormy weather, which was gaining with the
progress of the day.
The Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) has alerted all its docks and departments and asked them
to take all precautionary measures to face any eventuality in apprehension of cyclonic
storm Bulbul, that has already hit the coastal districts of West Bengal since Friday.
The KoPT as well as the state government have set up control rooms and monitoring the
storm situation.
The dock systems in Kolkata and Haldia have taken all measures to face vagaries of
nature with a control room set up this morning.
Pilot launches have been in operation at Haldia for shelter after night boating of Haldia
inwards and outwards.
Shipping will remain suspended till weather improves, a KoPT official said today.
All vessels in the ports and at Sandheads have been advised to take appropriate safety
measures.
Port users have been advised for safe parking/lashing of equipment at berths and back
up area.
Ships at berth have been asked to strength mooring arrangements. lWAI has been asked
to take safety measures at fly ash jetties.
Other measures are being taken for clearing roads in case of uprooting of trees.
UNI PC-SJC BM