In the wake of Cyclone Amphan, train and flight services have beed affected in West Bengal.
IMAGE: Strong winds and waves hit the shoreline in West Bengal’s Digha. Photograph: ANI
All operations at Kolkata Airport have been suspended till 5 am on Thursday in view of Cyclone Amphan.
“All operations have been suspended at Kolkata Airport till 5 am tomorrow including special flights, which were operational in view of the COVID-19 pandemic,” says airport director of West Bengal.
The Eastern Railway has cancelled the departure of Howrah-New Delhi AC Special Express for Wednesday.
The departure of 02301 Howrah-New Delhi AC Special Express on Wednesday and 02302 New Delhi-Howrah AC Special Express on May 21 would remain cancelled, the ER said.
Wind speed along and off the coastal areas of West Bengal will reach 75 to 85 kmph with gusts up to 95 kmph from Wednesday morning along and off districts of North and South 24 Parganas, East and West Midnapore, Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly, Regional Met director G K Das said.
“It will gradually increase thereafter becoming 110 to 120 kmph gusting to 130 kmph over West Midnapore, Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata and wind speed of 155 to 165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph over the districts of North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore of West Bengal from the afternoon to night of May 20,” he said.
Under its impact rainfall will occur in most places over the districts of Gangetic West Bengal on Wednesday, with heavy to very heavy downpour with extremely heavy rain at a few places in Kolkata, Howrah, East Midnapore, North and South 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts, he said.
“Storm surge of 4 to 5 metres above astronomical tide is likely to inundate low lying areas of South and North 24 Parganas and about 3 to 4 metres over low lying areas of East Midnapore district of West Bengal during the time of landfall,” he said.
The Indian Navy has dispatched a diving team for providing assistance to the West Bengal government in relief operations, a Defence official said.
The diving team from Vishakhapatnam has brought specialised equipment along with them which can be used for rescue in case of flooding and have been positioned at the Naval Service Selection Board at Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas district, the official said.
