Five persons were killed and over 100 injured as a storm lasting for a few minutes wreaked havoc in parts of Jalpaiguri and other districts of north Bengal on March 31. The deaths were reported in Jalpaiguri town in the storm which was accompanied by hailstorm and heavy rainfall.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the death toll from a storm that wreaked havoc in parts of Jalpaiguri has risen to five.
Several hutments and houses were damaged, trees uprooted and electric poles came crashing down as strong winds accompanied by hail struck most parts of the district headquarters town and many areas of neighbouring Mainaguri on Sunday. The Chief Minister, who rushed to the district late on Sunday night, assured the people of all help from the administration.
Rescue operation over
“So far, we have reports of the death of five people. The number of injured is quite high. I met the injured and the family members of those who died in the storm. The State administration will do everything to help the affected families,” she said.
When asked about providing compensation, Ms. Banerjee said, “As the model code of conduct is in place, I can’t say anything about it. You have to talk to the district administration.” The CM on Sunday night visited those injured and undergoing treatment at the hospital. She also spoke to the family members of those killed in the storm and assured them of all sorts of assistance.
“This is a disaster, an emergency situation. I have visited the families of those who have been killed and also those who are undergoing treatment at the hospital. I will thank the administration for their prompt action in the rescue operation. We are beside the people and will take care of their treatment and rebuilding the houses,” Ms. Banerjee said, adding that the rescue operation is over.
Ms. Banerjee had earlier said that affected people were being shifted to safer places and the district administration would provide compensation to the next of kin in the case of deaths, and the injured as per rules and following the model code of conduct.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also offered his condolences to those who have lost their loved ones and said his “thoughts are with those affected by the storms in Jalpaiguri-Maynaguri areas of West Bengal”.
“Spoke to officials and asked them to ensure proper assistance to those impacted by the heavy rains,” Mr. Modi said, adding that he “would also urge all @BJP4Bengal Karyakartas to assist those affected”.
Ms. Banerjee, accompanied by TMC party leaders, went to Jalpaiguri Medical College and Hospital and on her way also spoke to those in the relief camps in other parts of the districts through video call.
Warning issued
The districts of Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Coochbehar, where the cyclone created damage, will be going for the polls in the first phase scheduled for April 19. The Regional Meteorological Centre at Alipore in Kolkata had predicted thunderstorms and lightning accompanied by gusty wind (30-40 km) per hour in districts of north Bengal on Sunday. The damage was caused because of the sudden intensity of the hailstorm and several people out in the open and streets suffered injuries.
West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose also has set up an emergency cell in the Raj Bhavan to deal with the storm in Jalpaiguri. “The Governor is in touch with the Disaster Management Authority in Delhi. He requested the NDMA to rush more reinforcements by way of manpower and materials to Jalpaiguri. The Governor is in touch with the Central Home Ministry. He will camp in Jalpaiguri tomorrow [Monday] and visit ground zero and houses of the victims,” a press statement from the Raj Bhavan said.
The deceased were identified as Dijendra Narayan Sarkar, Anima Burman, Jagen Roy and Samar Roy, all residents of Jalpaiguri.
(With PTI inputs)
