How Cyclone Remal affected the Northeast

Guwahati: Incessant rains, storms, and landslides ion the aftermath of the Cyclone Remal is believed to have led to the deaths of at least 38 people in the Northeast Indian region, reports said.

Remal made landfall near West Bengal and Bangladesh coast around 11:30 pm on May 26. Soon after, strong gusts of wind and heavy rains were reported, including in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. At least six casualties were reported in the state.

In the Northeast, Mizoram was the worst affected with 27 confirmed deaths in four incidents of landslides. 

Mizoram officials said the death toll could be more than 30 as an uncertain number of people have been reported missing, with some of them buried under debris. The Chief Minister has announced Rs 4 lakh as ex-gratia for the deceased.

On Wednesday, several northeastern states, including Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram, and the southern part of Assam remained cut off from the rest of the country by rail as railway tracks were waterlogged and damaged after landslides triggered by incessant rain, officials.

Since Tuesday, the NFR had cancelled a large number of express, passenger and goods trains bound for south Assam, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram, according to officials. While the Northeastern states are accustomed to heavy rains and floods, cyclonic storms are rare in the region.

Meanwhile, infrastructure worth crores has also been damaged in the rains. In Tripura alone, damages worth over Rs 2.5 crore was reported, according to Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath. 

Spurred on by Cyclone Remal, southwest monsoon is expected to hit the Kerala coast and parts of the Northeast from Thursday, a day ahead of the date forecast by the weather office.

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