Cyclone Bulbul: Flight operations from Kolkata International Airport suspended for 12 hours
Kolkata/IBNS: Flight operations from Kolkata International Airport will remain suspended from 6 pm on Saturday to 6 am on Sunday morning due to cyclone Bulbul, officials said.
Bulbul has now intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm.
Due to #CycloneBulbul , Kolkata airport to suspend operations from 1800 hours today ie Nov 9th upto 0600 hrs tomorrow, i. e. 10 th Nov.
— K.S. Dhatwalia (@DG_PIB) November 9, 2019
It is likely to make a landfall between West Bengal and Bangladesh on Sunday.
"As the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm, ‘Bulbul’ which is about 100 km East Southeast of Paradip and 275 km South-Southwest of Kolkata as on 05:30 AM on 09 Nov 19, Eastern Naval Command(ENC) is closely monitoring the movement of the Cyclonic Storm which is presently moving northwards. Presently, the maximum sustained winds around the system are approximate of the order of 65 -70 Kn and the Severe Cyclonic Storm is expected to make landfall at West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts between Sagar Island (WB) and Khepupara (Bangladesh) across Sunderban delta by tonight," read a statement issued by the Indian Ministry of Defence.
Naval Aircraft deployed in the Bay of Bengal have been warning fishing boats about the impinging cyclone and advising them to return to the nearest harbour for shelter.
Three IN Ships at Visakhapatnam are standby with relief material embarked for immediate deployment to the most affected areas to undertake Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operation.
Additionally, ten diving and medical teams are also kept ready for augmenting rescue and relief efforts in Odisha and West Bengal.
Naval aircraft are kept ready at Naval Air Station, INS Dega to undertake aerial survey of the most affected areas, casualty evacuation and airdrop of relief material as required.
Naval Officers-in-Charge, West Bengal and Odisha are in constant liaison with respective State Administrations for rendering assistance as required.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said her government is monitoring the situation.
Situation in Bangladesh:
Bangladesh government has directed people of 13 coastal districts to take shelter in cyclone shelters by 2pm.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman was quoted as saying by Dhaka Tribune that 14,000 packets of dry food, Tk70 lakh and 1,400 metric tons rice have been allocated to the people of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola and Pirojpur districts.
In Chittagong, flight operations at Shah Amanat International Airport have been shut down for 14 hours from 4:00pm on Saturday to 6:00am on Sunday.
Wing Commander ABM Sarwar-E-Zaman, manager of the airport, confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune.
Meanwhile, operation at city's port has been suspended.
PM Sheikh Hasina said her government is prepared to conduct relief operations right after the cyclone passes away.
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