Bhubaneswar, May 27: Severe Cyclonic Storm "Remal" (pronounced "Re-Mal") over the North Bay of Bengal moved nearly northwards at a speed of 11 kmph during the past six hours. It crossed the Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Islands and Khepupara, close to southwest of Mongla, near latitude 21.75°N and longitude 89.2°E, between 10:30 pm IST on Sunday and 12:30 am on Monday, with wind speeds of 110 to 120 kmph, gusting to 135 kmph.

Remal passed over coastal Bangladesh and adjoining coastal West Bengal, moving nearly northwards at a speed of 15 kmph as of 6:00 am on Monday. It weakened into a cyclonic storm and was centered over the same region near latitude 22.5°N and longitude 89.3°E, about 150 km northeast of Sagar Islands (West Bengal), 110 km northwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), 70 km northeast of Canning (West Bengal), and 30 km west-southwest of Mongla (Bangladesh) at 5:30 am on Monday.

The system is expected to initially move north-northeastwards, then northeastwards, gradually weakening further.

The cyclone wreaked havoc in the coastal areas of West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh, uprooting trees, toppling light posts, and devastating houses and crops. However, it has had no direct effect on Odisha.

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