Heavy rain and strong gales triggered by Cyclone Remal have thrashed the coastlines of India and Bangladesh.Kolkata has resumed flights after more than 50 were cancelled, and suburban train services have also been restored.
"Many people are stranded — it will be another long night ahead with millions not having electricity or shelter," he said in a statement.Cyclone Remal is the first of the frequent storms expected to pound the low-lying coasts of the South Asian neighbours this year as climate change drives up surface temperatures at sea.
"People are usually very reluctant to leave their livestock and homes to go to cyclone shelters," he said.State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Mohibbur Rahman said the cyclone destroyed nearly 35,000 homes across 19 districts. An additional 115,000 homes were partially damaged. Nearly 3 million people in Bangladesh were without electricity, officials added. West Bengal authorities said at least 1,200 power poles were uprooted, while 300 mud huts had been razed.
Flooded roads disrupted travel in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. Rain also flooded many streets in the Indian city of Kolkata, with reports of wall collapses and at least 52 fallen trees.