Cyclone Sands cuts off electricity to millions in India and Bangladesh

2024-05-28 2024-05-28T10:52:42Z

Arab Weather - The coastal areas of Bangladesh and India were exposed to strong winds and heavy rains with the powerful Cyclone “Smal” making landfall late on Sunday evening, which led to a power outage for millions as a result of strong winds toppling electricity poles and uprooting some trees.

The Indian Meteorological Department reported that the storm crossed coastal areas such as the port of Mongla in Bangladesh and the Sagar Islands in the Indian state of West Bengal, where wind speeds reached 135 kilometers per hour.

Indian police reported that a person died in the city of Kolkata when pieces of concrete fell on him during the height of the storm, and the thatched roofs of huts were blown off and mud houses were leveled to the ground in the coastal areas of the two countries. The authorities in both countries are waiting to verify the full extent of the losses before announcing them.

Low-lying coastal areas in South Asia, in both Bangladesh and India, have experienced frequent strong storms in recent years due to rising sea surface temperatures as a result of climate change. "Sand" is the first hurricane to hit the region this year.

Cyclone Sands disrupts air and sea traffic in Bangladesh and India

Bangladesh has evacuated about 800,000 people from Mongla, Chittagong and nine other coastal districts to shelters since Sunday morning, and up to 110,000 people have been transferred to shelters in India.

Dhaka prepared about eight thousand hurricane shelters and mobilized 78 thousand volunteers in preparation for the storm, while the Indian Navy stated that it kept ships, planes, divers and medical supplies ready to intervene if the need arises.

The authorities canceled more than 50 international and domestic flights in Kolkata, where operations were suspended as of Sunday afternoon. Bangladesh also suspended operations at the ports of Mongla and Chittagong.