1 dead as cyclone Bulbul' makes landfall

Kolkata: Amidst a high alert declared in the coastal districts, Cyclone 'Bulbul' hit Sagar Islands and Bakkhali on Saturday evening. The storm is likely to weaken gradually and move northeastwards and cross Bengal-Bangladesh coasts between Sagar Islands and Bangladesh's Khepurpara across the Sunderban delta between 8 pm and 11 pm as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 110-120 km per hour, gusting to 135 km per hour.

A 28-year-old youth died after a portion of a tree fell on him near the Calcutta Cricket and Football Club (CCFC) on Syed Amir Ali Avenue in the afternoon.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged people of the coastal districts in particular not to panic and also requested them to maintain calm and co-operate with the local administration in the wake of a strong cyclone.

The Chief Minister on Saturday afternoon tweeted: "Please do not panic. Kindly remain calm and co-operate with the administration in its rescue and relief efforts. Be alert, take care and stay safe. #WBFightsCycloneBulbul.

"Cyclone Bulbul is about to pass through Bengal. Our State Administration is closely monitoring the situation 24x7. We are taking all measures to tackle any contingency. Special Control Rooms have been set up and NDRF-SDRF teams are deployed," she also tweeted.

Banerjee on Saturday held a high-level meeting with Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha, Home Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay and Director General of Police Virendra at Nabanna to oversee the situation. She also monitored the situation from the control room at Nabanna. Banerjee instructed the Chief Secretary to oversee the arrangements made by the administration in various districts. The Chief Minister also inquired about the district-wise situation.

Earlier in the day, taking to Twitter, Banerjee maintained: "Schools, colleges and anganwadi centres have been closed and more than 1 lac 20 thousand people have already been rescued from the vulnerable coastal areas."

Kolkata Airport authorities decided to close flight operations from 6 pm on Saturday till 6 am on Sunday.