As cyclone ‘Bulbul’ intensifies, Kolkata Airport suspends services till Sunday morning

Kolkata, November 9: As the cyclonic storm ‘Bulbul’ on Friday intensified into a ‘severe’ category cyclonic storm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said as it sounded a yellow alert in West Bengal and predicted heavy rainfall in some parts of the state. As the cyclone moves toward West Bengal, Kolkata airport has suspended its services from 6 p.m on Saturday evening to 6 a.m. Sunday morning.

 

The cyclone is likely to move towards West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts, skirting Odisha, informed HR Biswas, the director of Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre. The storm is currently moving at a speed of 13 kmph and may intensify further by Saturday. It is unlikely to make landfall in Odisha. Officials have been told to ensure total suspension of fishing operations from Friday. Farmers have also been advised to take steps to protect crops and harvested paddy.

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), headed by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, on Friday took stock of the preparedness for rescue and relief operations for the severe cyclone 'Bulbul', which is likely to hit Odisha and West Bengal. The NDRF has stationed a total of 34 teams in West Bengal and Odisha in view of the approaching severe cyclone Bulbul, news agency PTI reported Friday. Seventeen teams each have been stationed in the two states and the National Disaster Response Force is prepared to tackle any eventuality.

The IMD has said the cyclone, which had developed over Bay of Bengal, has now intensified and is likely to cross the West Bengal coast by early Sunday morning.