Storm toll rises to 128, victims say relief inadequate (Roundup)

PATNA/KOLKATA - A day after a violent storm lashed parts of Bihar, West Bengal and Assam, the body count climbed to 128 Thursday. There is mounting anger and helplessness among the hundreds of thousands rendered homeless as they say food, medicines and temporary shelters have been hard to come by.

At least 81 people died in Bihar, while the figure is 43 in West Bengal and four in Assam. Fallen trees, flattened houses, damaged crops were a common sight, as were mangled cars and dead cattle that were tossed up by the high velocity winds that struck on the intervening night of Tuesday-Wednesday.

“We are hungry, our children are crying for food, officials are yet to provide us any relief,” Naushad Alam from Tetri Badi village in Bihar’s Purnia district told IANS over a still functioning telephone line.

The storm ravaged Bihar’s Seemanchal region, including the districts of Araria, Purnia, Kishanganj, Katihar and Supaul districts.

According to the disaster management department, the maximum casualties were in Purnia, at 39, followed by 33 in Araria, seven in Katihar and one each in Kishanganj and Supaul districts. Unconfirmed reports put the toll at 96.

The number of dead has gone up to 81, Principal Secretary (Disaster Management Department) Vayasji told IANS here.

The state government has announced Rs.1.5 lakh compensation for the next of kin of those killed, but on Thursday victims complained that relief had not been prompt.

The story was no different in West Bengal where some hospitals even had to treat the injured under candle light as power and communication lines - that were snapped in the storm - were yet to be restored.

“There is some problem in reaching relief,” admitted West Bengal Minister for Tourism Manab Mukherjee, who was sent to take stock of the situation.

More than 200 people were in hospitals in the state Thursday. While North Dinajpur was the worst hit, Jalpaiguri was also badly affected by the 30-minute storm that has been likened to a tornado.

Officials struggled to reach emergency medicines, dry food, milk powder, tarpauline sheets and clothes and blankets to the affected areas. There were reports of the storm victims staging demonstrations at several places complaining of inadequate or no relief.

The worst-affected Karandighi block, which recorded 18 deaths, seemed largely in ruins.

The government has announced a compensation of Rs.2 lakh to each of the victims’ families in West Bengal.

The devastating thunderstorm killed four people in Assam and damaged up to 500 homes.

“I lost everything in just matter of minutes. We are ruined,” said Abhir Das, a farmer in Hajo area, 30 km off Assam’s main city Guwahati. His mud and thatch hut was flattened while the storm damaged stranding paddy crops and vegetable cultivation.

The worst hit by the thunderstorm were Kamrup, Nalbari, Dhubri and Nagaon districts with heavy rains accompanied by gushing wind and hailstorm lashing the region. There were similar reports of damage to properties and injuries from Nalbari and Nagaon districts.

“We have taken all possible measures to provide relief and other financial assistance to people hit by the storm,” Assam Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Bhumidhar Barman said.

The Meteorological Department has predicted more rain and thunderstorms over most parts of Assam.