KOLKATA – The death toll from the powerful Cyclone Remal, which struck the low-lying regions of Bangladesh and India, has risen to at least 65, according to state government officials and media reports as of May 29. The cyclone, which made landfall on the evening of May 26, brought fierce gales, torrential rain, and crashing waves, causing widespread destruction.
Azizur Rahman, director of the state-run Bangladesh Meteorological Department, described Cyclone Remal as “one of the longest in the country’s history,” attributing its prolonged impact to climate change.
Bangladesh, bearing the brunt of the cyclone, reported at least 17 fatalities, as confirmed by the disaster management office and police. Victims were reported to have drowned, been struck by debris, fallen trees, or electrocuted by downed power lines.
In India, the death toll has climbed to 47, up from an earlier count of 21. The northeastern state of Mizoram was hit hardest, with 28 deaths, including 14 workers who were crushed in a quarry collapse during the rainstorm on May 28, according to a statement from the Mizoram government. In West Bengal state, 10 fatalities were reported, as confirmed by senior government official Sumit Gupta. An additional 10 deaths occurred in the states of Assam, Nagaland, and Meghalaya, as reported by the Hindustan Times.
Cyclones frequently strike Bangladesh and India, but the incidence of superstorms has increased sharply, a trend scientists link to climate change. However, advancements in forecasting and more effective evacuation planning have significantly reduced death tolls in recent years.
The aftermath of Cyclone Remal highlights the ongoing challenges faced by these densely populated regions in adapting to and mitigating the impacts of increasingly severe weather patterns.