Cyclone Remal effect: Rain batters entire northeast

GUWAHATI: Menacing clouds hover over the entire northeast even as dozens of flights were cancelled and heavy downpours started pounding Mizoram since Saturday, hours before severe the cyclonic storm, Remal, is set to make landfall on Sunday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a “red alert” for Monday in Tripura with a warning for extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places over Gomati and Sepahijala districts. Thunderstorms with lightning and squally winds with speeds up to 60kmph gusting up to 70kmph are also very likely in these two districts.

Over two dozen flights to and originating from various airports of the region — Guwahati, Agartala, Aizawl and Imphal — were cancelled on Sunday. Of them, 11 flights were those connecting Agartala to Guwahati and Kolkata and seven flights from Imphal. Four flights connecting Guwahati and Kolkata were also cancelled. While Air India cancelled four flights that were scheduled to operate between Agartala and Kolkata, Indigo cancelled six flights between Agartala and Kolkata and one between Agartala and Guwahati.

3 NDRF teams deployed in NE

Moreover, four flights connecting Kolkata, Guwahati and Imphal with Aizawl were also cancelled. For Monday, IndiGo has cancelled six flights (incoming and outgoing) connecting Imphal with Kolkata, Dibrugarh and Shillong.

With the IMD and the National Disaster Management Authority issuing cyclone alerts, state govts in the region asked its citizens to be responsible and follow guidelines in the next few days to prevent loss of life and property.

Three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been strategically deployed in the northeastern region with one each positioned in the South Tripura district, and the Cachar and Bongaigaon districts of Assam. Ten additional NDRF teams have been placed on standby, ready to swiftly respond to any emergencies.

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Kolkata airport wears deserted look as cyclone 'Remal' forces flight suspensions

Kolkata airport suspended flight operations due to Cyclone Remal, leaving the terminal deserted with only security personnel and airline staff present.