38 dead, over 100 injured in West Bengal storm (Second Lead)

KOLKATA - At least 38 people were killed, over 100 injured and more than one lakh houses destroyed when a heavy cyclone hit West Bengal’s North Dinajpur district, disrupting power and communication networks and uprooting thousands of trees across five administrative blocks, officials said Wednesday.

“At least 38 people were killed and more than 100 were injured in yesterday’s (Tuesday) cyclonic storm. More than one lakh houses were damaged in the disaster,” North Dinajpur’s acting district magistrate Piyush Kanti Dutta told IANS over phone.

“As the entire communication network has collapsed, we are not getting all information. The toll may also rise,” Dutta said.

He said four blocks — Karandighi, Raigang, Kaliaganj, and Hemtabad — were severely affected by the cyclonic spell.

“A large portion of Goalpokhar block was also damaged in the storm,” he added.

The storm with wind speed of 120 km per hour broke out at about 10.30 p.m. Tuesday and swept four blocks of the district, leaving thousands homeless and bringing down trees with its ferocity.

State Civil Defence Minister Srikumar Mukherjee described the situation as “very grave”.

Dozens of villages in the affected blocks were completely cut off, with mobile and telephone services and road communication disrupted.

At least 18 people died in the worst-affected Karandighi block, district sources said.

“The district administration, along with the police and other agencies, was trying to clear the roads. We are also trying to restore the power and communication system in the district,” he said.

“The ferocity of the storm was such that it twisted trees. That is the reason I feel it was more than a mere norwester (a storm common in this part of the country),” Mukherjee said.

“Not only mud houses, even pucca houses did not escape its wrath. There is no power supply. Land telephone and mobiles are not working. We are trying to maintain a semblance of contact with district officials through police wireless,” the minister said.

Inspector General of Police (North Bengal) Kundan Lal Tamta said seven police barracks had collapsed but there was no report so far of any casualty among the policemen.

“A large number of people seem to have been injured but we cannot confirm the figure now. May be, a lot of people are trapped under fallen trees and razed houses,” Tamta said.

The government has cancelled leave of all officials and ordered relief and rescue operations on war footing.

Sources said the injured villagers have been admitted in Raigang Sadar Hospital. Many were also admitted at various block-level health centres.

“We are trying to send some critical patients to North Bengal Medical College for treatment,” Dutta said.

State disaster management minister Mortaza Hossain said tarpaulin sheets, medicines and clothes, besides dry food was being sent to the affected areas.