Warning: Cyclone AILA hits West Bengal - Kolkata affected and Sunderbans closed

indracal

Cyclone AILA has hit West Bengal badly.

Some bengali TV News said (24 ghanta) that the Namkhana Sluice Gate is damaged. Digha is experiencing veri high waves and very strong storms.

Kolkata in under stormy winds and heavy rain. Due to the storm, one Auto Rickshaw (tuktuk) driver and one of his passenger died under a falling tree in Prince Anwar Shah Road in Tollygunj (Lords Bakery stop).

Please be safe, don't venture out, it's nature's fury!

Please also update relevant information in this thread.

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debajyoti

Orissa also has raised the storm warning levels along its ports and alerted coastal residents.

s_pradeep

All offices in Sector V have declared leave for the day. Kolkata Police sent warning text messages and announced publicly requesting citizens to stay indoors.

debajyoti

Twelve people were killed and the Indian Army was asked to start rescue operations in the coastal South 24 Parganas district where extensive damage was feared as cyclone Aila crossed the coast into West Bengal.

Fifteen people were injured in the West Bengal capital. Five of the deaths occurred in Kolkata, where normal life virtually collapsed as a storm with a speed of 55 km per hour uprooted trees at around 50 places blocking major roads.

A South Eastern Railway spokesman said with fallen trees blocking tracks at four stations in the Kharagpur-Howrah section, several passenger trains were stranded.

Train services were also severely affected in the south Section of the Sealdah division.

An India Meteorological Department (IMD) statement in Delhi said: "Sea condition will be very high along and off West Bengal and north Orissa coasts (till Tuesday evening).

The cyclone will have a force of 100-110 km in the sea, and fishermen have been asked not to venture into the seas. The Kolkata Port authorities have been asked to hoist danger signal number 10. In Kolkata, tram services were stopped and people asked not to venture into the streets till the evening.

indracal

Most of the local TV channels are reporting that the Met Dept has informed that the cyclone Aila has weakened and moved northwards. As a result of this, heavy rain and serious storm may occur at Bardhaman (Bardwan) district, Hooghly district and related areas.

However, as I am typing this from my home, I am noticing heavy winds (Kolkata suburb around South 24 Pargana border). No rainfall at this moment.

Met Dept has warned that heavy to very heavy shower is expected in the next 24-48 hours.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/I...ow/4575274.cms

The Met Dept website says that weather info is also available on TOLL FREE No. 1800 180 1717. Unsure if it gives any specific warnings and updates related to your location.

The latest IMD bulletin says:

BOB 02/2009/15 Dated: 25. 05. 2009

Time of issue: 2000 hours IST

Sub: Severe cyclonic storm over Gangetic West Bengal.

The severe cyclonic storm “AILA” over Gangetic West Bengal Bengal moved slightly northward and lay centred at 1730 hours IST of today, the 25th May 2009 over Gangetic West Bengal close to Kolkata. The system is likely to move in a near northerly direction and weaken gradually.

Under its influence, rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls (≥ 25 cm) is likely over Gangetic West Bengal during next 24 hours and over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim during next 48 hours.

Rain/thundershower is also likely at most places over Assam and Meghalaya with isolated heavy to very heavy fall during next 48 hours and over north Orissa during next 24 hrs.

Gale wind speed reaching 70-80 kmph gusting 90 kmph likely along and off West Bengal coasts during next 12 hours. Squally winds reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph likely along and off north Orissa coast during next 12 hours.

Sea condition will be very rough to high along and off West Bengal coast during next 12 hours. Fishermen are advised not to venture into sea.

Next bulletin will be issued at 2230 hrs IST of today, the 25th May 2009
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indracal

Pradeep, Welcome to IM! What a stormy entry you made!

s_pradeep

LOL! Thanks indra

somnath biswas

Sad to know from Sajnekhali Tourist lodge manager that water from the river entered the lodge yesterday due to this storm. Due to height the lodge is fortunately saved. They have started sending water by their motor boat to the different village as most of the ponds are submerged by salty water. Same condition is prevailing in Bakkhali. No water, no electricity. The condition of these areas is really bad. Let us hope that they will get proper help from the authority.

Spiderdust

Hello all... I just got this e-mail. Looks like Sunderbans is closed til June 30.

This is to inform you that due to the recent Natural Calamity (Cyclone Aila on the 25th May’09) the inhabitants of the Sunderbans and the people associated with it are the prime affected.

Several villagers are homeless and the homes of others are devastated due to this cruel act of nature. They have lost everything in this cyclone; the whole village of Dayapur is submerged in saline water.

In lieu of this Sunderban Tiger Camp will be closed for renovation while ensuring that the lives of all team members are reinstated to normalcy until the 30th of June,2009

In respect to the above mentioned we at Sunderban Tiger Camp humbly request for your support and would appreciate any form of charity, be it household articles, clothes or even dry food, for the people of the village, Dayapur as they have been hurt immensely due to this cruel act of nature.

We thank you in advance for your consideration and do look forward to your generous contribution in assisting the affected to get back up on their feet.

This is to inform you that I am cancelling your booking for june and you will get the refund back.

Sunderban Tiger Camp Team
Please call: 9831170453; 9331092632; 9830867600 to know how you can help or send assistance to: 9, Mitter House, 2nd Floor, 71 Ganesh Chandra Avenue, Kolkata - 700 013, West Bengal (India)|

With Warm Regards,

mantru

hey guys any updates on darjeeling,i have no clue as phone lines are down.

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Mantru
http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/m...0489&protype=1

http://mytravelpage.6te.net

theyyamdancer

Hi, Mantru, this report is in the Telegraph of Kolkata (online) today:


http://www.telegraphindia.com/109052...y_11025650.jsp

and Darjeeling is mentioned.

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debajyoti

Hi Mantru ,
This report in Times of India , Kolkata


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/A...ow/4581847.cms


Thanks
Debajyoti

kausiks

I was listening to the interview of a reporter who covers that part of Bengal (Sunderbans) and according to him its in a terrible condition now. People cannot travel from one place to another as the condition of the rivers is not suitable for any kind of travel. So water, medicine and food cannot be transported to the affected areas. Also, wildlife have been swept in/moved in residential areas. So people are under threat of crocodiles and snakes even in their own villages.
Lets hope for things being restored back to normal as soon as possible. And lets help them in whatever way its possible for each of us.

indracal

Hi,

From another IM thread it seems that the Sunderbans is closed for tours now. It is very much understandable considering the rage of Aila in such coastal areas.

Look up Sunderbans closed due to cyclone

Mods: Seems the referred thread and the current thread may be merged. If you feel so too, kindly do the needful.

P.S. I just noted I made a century in IndiaMike! Woo Hoo!

theyyamdancer