DHAKA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Cyclone Remal smashed Bangladeshi and Indian coasts Sunday night, said a senior official of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
Strong winds and storm surged along the coasts of southern Bangladesh and India's West Bengal after the storm came ashore at 8:00 p.m. local time, Md Shamim Ahsan, deputy director of the Cyclone Warning Center at the BMD, told Xinhua.
No casualties have so far been reported.
The cyclone's center is expected to move further north and fully cross the Bangladeshi coast, he said, adding that the eye of the cyclone is scheduled to cross Bangladesh between midnight and 1:00 am local time Monday after which it is expected to weaken.
In its latest special bulletin, under the influence of the storm, some low-lying areas and their offshore islands are likely to be inundated by storm surge of several feet height above normal astronomical tide.
The great danger signal No. 10 has been sounded for all the districts and ports where fishing boats, trawlers and maritime vessels over the north bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.
Bangladesh on Sunday completed evacuation of about 1 million people from its coastlines.
Television footage showed widespread flooding in coastal areas of Cox's Bazaar, Chattogram, Patuakhali and other districts where more than 800,000 people have been evacuated.
