Cyclone Remal: Exemplary coordination of ICG with Central & State agencies prevents loss of life or property at sea off West Bengal coast

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) demonstrated exemplary synergy with Central & State agencies to successfully deal with the situation arising out of Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS) ‘Remal’. This cyclonic storm had originated as a low-pressure area on May 22 and rapidly intensified into an SCS, before making landfall on the intervening night of May 26-27 on the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh.

The Headquarters of Coast Guard Region (North-East) launched pre-emptive measures and ensured coordination with various central and state agencies, resulting in no loss of life or property at sea & managing the situation effectively. In view of the arrival of the cyclone, the ICG deployed ships, aircraft, and shore-based surveillance systems to ensure proactive surveillance & strategic diversion of the entire merchant fleet from the storm’s path. Timely alerts were broadcast from ICG’s Remote Operating Stations at Haldia and Paradip, warning fishing boats and transiting merchant vessels.

Following the SCS’s landfall, ICG Ship Varad promptly sailed from Paradip to conduct a post-cyclone assessment. Additionally, two ICG Dornier aircraft took off from Bhubaneswar and carried out comprehensive surveillance in the North Bay of Bengal.