Police say cyclone kills 56 people in eastern India

Police: Cyclone kills 56 people in India

CALCUTTA, India — Police say a cyclone demolished thousands of mud huts and uprooted trees in several villages in eastern India, killing at least 56 people.

Surojit Kar Purkaystha, an inspector-general of police, says the cyclone struck Tuesday night in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal state and some areas in neighboring Bihar state.

Officials said 31 people were killed in West Bengal state and another 25 in Bihar state.

The area is nearly 315 miles (500 kilometers) northeast of Calcutta, the capital of West Bengal state.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

CALCUTTA, India (AP) — A cyclone demolished thousands of mud huts and uprooted trees in several villages in eastern India, killing at least 31 people, an official said Wednesday.

Srikumar Mukherjee, the civil defense minister, said the cyclone struck Tuesday night in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal state, snapping telephone and electricity lines in the area.

Mukherjee also said hundreds of people suffered injuries in the region, nearly 315 miles (500 kilometers) northeast of Calcutta, the capital of West Bengal state.

The worst-hit villages were Hematabad, Raiganj and Kiran Dighi, where police and rescue have recovered 31 bodies, Mukherjee told The Associated Press.

The cyclone demolished nearly 50,000 mud huts, he said.