On Saturday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she is monitoring the situation and the administration has taken all measures to tackle any contingency in view of Cyclone Bulbul, which was supposed to make landfall in the state's coastal area. She appealed to citizens to maintain calm and not to panic.
Heavy rain accompanied by high-velocity winds, trigerred by Cyclone Bulbul, lashed several parts of coastal Odisha, uprooting trees and snapping road links.
Chief Secretaries of West Bengal and Odisha said that necessary preparations have been made by them and State Disaster Response Force and Fire Service teams have been positioned. As many as 16 teams of the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force have been positioned in West Bengal and additional teams are being deployed at the request of the states.
In Odisha, due to cyclone Bulbul, 8218 people were shifted to 108 relief camps, around 5,500 houses were damaged and power and communication were disrupted after a large number of trees were uprooted.
In West Bengal, cyclone Bulbul affected nearly 2.94 lakh people, damaged around 60,000 houses and caused extensive damage to crops.
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Under the effect of cyclone Bulbul, light to moderate rainfall is likely to occur at many places in South Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram during the next 24 hours.
A senior official Sunday said that cyclone Bulbul which wreaked havoc in the coastal districts of West Bengal and threw normal life out of gear, significantly improved Kolkata's air quality. According to the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) readings, the city's air quality improved to 'good' and 'satisfactory' after the storm from 'poor' two days ago.
Heavy rain and high-speed winds triggered by cyclone Bulbul claimed two lives in Odisha, officials said on Sunday. The cyclone also caused extensive damage to around 40 per cent standing crops and over six lakh hectares of cultivable land spread over five districts, said Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena.
Cyclone Bulbul smashed into the low-lying areas of neighbouring Bangladesh, killing at least 8 people and injuring 15 as it made landfall after causing heavy rain and destruction in the coastal districts of West Bengal.
Cyclone Bulbul claimed at least ten lives and affected 2.73 lakh families as it hit the coastal districts West Bengal on Sunday, official reports said.
At least 13 people were killed as cyclone Bulbul lashed coastal West Bengal in India and Bangladesh on Sunday. On Sunday afternoon, Bulbul weakened into a “deep depression” and lay over coastal Bangladesh and is likely to move east-northeastwards during the next 9 hours, IMD said.
West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar hailed the "directional" efforts of the state government and other central agencies to minimise the impact of cyclone Bulbul. He also lauded the IMD for its timely forecast of the severe cyclonic storm and said, "The directional efforts of the state government, its agencies as also central outfits National Disaster Response Force, National Disaster Management Authority, Coast Guard, Navy and others have minimised the damage due to 'Bulbul'..."
Below are some photos of the destruction caused by cyclone Bulbul in West Bengal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday spoke to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and assured all possible assistance from Centre in relief operations in cyclone-affected areas. Home Minister Amit Shah said that 10 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been sent to West Bengal and six teams to Odisha, and 18 more teams have been kept on standby. Read more here
Cyclone Bulbul brought in heavy rain, accompanied by strong winds, affecting normal life in several parts of the state. At least seven people were killed due to the cyclone and rain-related incidents in different parts of the state, official reports said.
Cyclone Bulbul made landfall between Bengal and Bangladesh coasts on Sunday. Below are some visuals from cyclone-affected areas in Bengal.
Six people were killed and 30 injured after cyclone Bulbul lashed Bangladesh on Sunday, officials said. Five of the six victims were killed by falling trees and around 6,000 homes were partially or fully damaged, authorities said.
GC Das, Alipore Meteorological Dept: Cyclonic storm Bulbul now lies over coastal areas of Bangladesh, away from Bengal. In next 12 hours, this tropical cyclone will become depression&lose intensity. There is only wind warning now. Fishermen are advised to not go out, reported ANI.
Waterlogging in parts of Kolkata following rainfall in the region due to Cyclone Bulbul.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee postpones her North Bengal visit to take an areal survey of Bulbul affected Namkhana and Bakkhali.
Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir received snowfall last night.
Efforts are being made by the disaster management teams to combat Bulbul.
Stormy winds in South Kolkata uproots trees, damages hoardings.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reviewed the situation after Cyclone Bulbul brought heavy rains in parts of Odisha and West Bengal. He also spoke with Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and assured her of all possible assistance from the Centre, he tweeted.
Weather is windy in Bengal's south 24 Parganas
In Delhi, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), the country's apex body to handle any emergency, on Saturday reviewed the preparedness to deal with the very severe cyclone 'Bulbul' over the Bay of Bengal.
The NCMC meeting was headed by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba.
"Due to very severe cyclone 'Bulbul', operations at Kolkata airport has been suspended from 6.00 pm on November 9 to 6.00 am of November 10," a home ministry official said in the national capital.
"The Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard are on alert," an MHA official said. (PTI)
Road clearance work being carried out by National Disaster Response Force personnel in South 24 Parganas.
A strong cyclone made landfall early Sunday in Bangladesh, where hundreds of thousands of people have moved to shelters across the low-lying delta nation's vast coastal region. Up to 1.8 million were expected to be evacuated by Saturday evening ahead of Cyclone Bulbul, said Enamur Rahman, Bangladesh's junior disaster management minister. More than 5,000 shelters had been prepared by Saturday morning.
The cyclone was packing winds of up to 120 kilometers (75 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 130 kph (80 mph), but was forecast to weaken after crossing the coast. (AP)
South 24 Parganas: About 200 people have taken shelter at Sagar Pilot Station of Kolkata Port Trust. Villagers belonging to storm-stricken villages were served food by the Commander, pilots, and staff. (ANI)
Bulbul lay centred over Bangladesh and adjoining coastal West Bengal at 6.30 in the morning. (Photo: IMD)
Light to moderate rainfall with isolated heavy spells of rainfall is likely to continue over south and north 24 Parganas and Nadiya district during next three years. (IMD)
Air quality at Ghaziabad's Vasundhara at 'very poor' category. AQI recorded at 325.
Severe cyclonic storm Bulbul weakened into a cyclonic storm&lay centered at 0530 hours of today, over Bangladesh and adjoining coastal West Bengal. It is very likely to move East-Northeastwards across Bangladesh and likely to weaken into a deep depression during next six hours. (IMD)
Ferry services have been suspended at Bichali Ghat in Kolkata.
Severe Cyclonic Storm Bulbul lay centred at 2.30 am, over coastal West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh, about 12 km southwest of Sundarban National Park (South 24 Parganas District of West Bengal).
As Cyclone Bulbul made landfall late Sunday night, the people of West Bengal looked for shelter to save their lives, coming out of their homes. For 65-year-old Sudhangshu Mandal, a farmer of Bijaybati village near Bakkhali in South 24 Parganas district, Saturday was a day of déjà vu. Ten years ago, he had lost his mud house and about 100 cottah land in cyclone Aila, which wrecked havoc in South 24 Parganas district in 2009, killing 149 people in the state. Read more
Cyclone Bulbul made landfall at Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas around 8 pm on Saturday accompanied by heavy rainfall and wind speed gusting between 120-140 kmph. There were reports of hundreds of trees getting uprooted and several mud houses collapsing in the coastal areas. There were also reports of power cuts with the snapping of electricity lines. Read more
Flight services between Pune and Kolkata will remain affected till Sunday morning as Kolkata airport has suspended operations due to the effect of Cyclone Bulbul. Several flights between the two cities have been cancelled and passengers are looking for other travel options. On Saturday, officials from Airports Authority of India (AAI) said due to very severe Cyclone Bulbul, operations at Kolkata airport were being suspended from 6 pm on November 9 to 6 am on November 10. Read more
Cyclone Bulbul: "It is very likely to move northeastwards to Bangladesh across South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. It is very likely to weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm over coastal Bangladesh and adjoining South and North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal by 10th morning," reports news agency ANI quoting IMD
Cyclone Bulbul made landfall at Sagar Island in West Bengal’s South 24 Pargana district around 8 pm on Saturday, accompanied by heavy rainfall and wind speed recorded between 120 and 140 km per hour. There were reports of one death each in West Bengal and neighbouring Odisha. Read more
Cyclone Bulbul makes landfall in West Bengal, reports news agency ANI.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited a control room at the state secretariat earlier today to monitor the situation.
Ships have been moved to safer locations at Paradip, Dhamra and Sagar Island coasts, Inspector General of Coast Guard, Rajan Bargotra, told PTI.
In Odisha, around 4,000 people have so far bee evacuated from vulnerable and low-lying areas in some coasta regions of the state and shifted to 47 cyclone shelters. (PTI)
Hurtling high-speed cyclonic storm 'Bulbul' is set to make landfall by 11 pm Saturday night between Sagar Islands of West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh and move northwestwards into the neighbouring country over the Sunderban delta, news agency PTI reported.
According to news agency PTI, one death each has been reported from Bengal and Odisha due to heavy rain triggered by the very severe cyclonic storm Bulbul.
Continous downpouring since the early hours of Saturday left parts of Kolkata and its adjoining suburbs with waterlogged streets and overflowing drains.
"The Very Severe Cyclonic Storm 'Bulbul' over the northwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 11 kmph during past 06 hours, and lay centred at 1730 hours IST of today, the 09th November, 2019, over northwest Bay of Bengal, about 170 km east-northeast of Paradip (Odisha), 50 km south of Sagar Islands (West Bengal), 75 km southeast of Digha and 150 km south-southeast of Kolkata," IMD said in its latest bulletin
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Heavy rain triggered by very severe cyclonic storm 'Bulbul' on Saturday lashed coastal West Bengal, uprooted trees leading to the death of one person in the city and causing traffic snarls, news agency PTI reported.
Incessant rain since the early hours of Saturday has left parts of Kolkata and its adjoining suburbs with waterlogged streets and overflowing drains, leading to traffic congestion during busy office hours.
Following local trains have been cancelled due to heavy rainfall
* 38439/68689 (Howrah-Panskura-Digha) on 9.11.2019 (Today).
* 68686(Digha-Panskura) and 68688/38418(Digha-Panskura-Howrah) on 10.11.19.
Operations at Agartala airport have been suspended from 6 pm tonight till 6 am due to Cyclone Bulbul, Airport Director, SD Barman said. Three flights were cancelled in Agartala-Kolkata route this evening including two of IndiGo Airlines and Air India, he said.
Cyclone Bulbul: Storm to cross Bengal-Bangladesh Coasts between 8-11 pm.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday said that she herself is monitoring the situation and the administration has taken all measures to tackle any contingency in view of Cyclone Bulbul, which will make its landfall in the coastal area of the state
"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," Banerjee said in a tweet.
"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." she added.
"Due to severe cyclonic storm currently moving from the Bay of Bengal towards Kolkata area reaching by late evening today, IndiGo has implemented proactive cancellations," the airlines said in a press release.
"The peak hours of the Cyclone is expected from Saturday, 9 Nov 2019, 1000 PM until Sunday, 10 Nov 2019 morning 0400 AM. All the passengers of the affected domestic flights are being notified and alternate arrangements being offered," it adds.
Severe cyclone 'Bulbul' at 1500 hours Saturday lay about 90 km south-southeast of Digha, 85 km south of Sagar Islands and 185 km Southeast of Kolkata, IMD said.
Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, accompanied by winds reaching up to 120 kmph and tidal waves up to one to two metre, is expected while the cyclone is expected to make landfall on the West Bengal coast at around 2000 to 2200 hours on Saturday.
As many as 16 teams of the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force have been positioned in West Bengal and additional teams are being deployed at the request of the states.
Electricity supply in some areas may be switched off during inclement weather for electrical safety. CESC says it will work round the clock for early restoration.
Operations at the Kolkata airport, the busiest in eastern India, will be suspended for 12 hours beginning 6 PM on Saturday due to severe cyclone 'Bulbul', Home Ministry officials said. The severe cyclone is expected to make landfall on the West Bengal coast this evening. READ MORE HERE
Action suggested for the districts of West Bengal by IMD
• Total suspension of fishing operations.
• Coastal hutment dwellers to be moved to safer places.
• Mobilise evacuation from coastal areas of South and North 24 Parganas.
• People in affected areas to remain indoors.
• Rail and Road traffic to be regulated.
• Movement in motorboats and small ships unsafe.
• Beach movement to be restricted.
• Total suspension of ferry boat activity on 9th and 10th November over Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, East and West Medinipur districts.
Authorities in Bangladesh on Friday ordered the evacuation of about 18 lakh people from the low-lying coastal villages and islands as the country braced for Cyclone Bulbul.
As per news agency PTI, officials from the disaster management ministry said thousands of people have already been moved to safe shelters as the evacuation process was underway particularly in 10 southwestern coastal districts, which are likely to face the maximum brunt of Cyclone 'Bulbul'.
Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, accompanied by winds reaching up to the speed of 120 Kmph and tidal waves up to one to two meter are expected while the cyclone is expected to make a landfall at the West Bengal coast at around 2000 to 2200 hours today.