Bengal struck by nature's fury, Cyclone Amphan leaves trail of large-scale destruction; at least 10-12 dead
Cyclone Amphan has caused large-scale destruction in Bengal, leaving a trail of devastation in North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Kolkata. Even places like Howrah, West Midnapore, East Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura have reported severe damages by Wednesday’s cyclone. The cyclone, one of the worst for Bengal in living memory, damaged thousands of houses, uprooted trees and electricity poles and left at least 10-12 people dead.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told reporters in Kolkata that North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Kolkata were completely damaged. “Our secretariat has suffered major damages,” Banerjee said.
Twitter has been inundated with horrifying visuals of large-scale devastation. In one video, the roof of a school in Howrah can be seen being blown away by the storm. In another visual, electricity transformers could be seen exploding in Kolkata leaving a trail of huge flames amidst the heavy downpour.
In one visual, a tree was seen catching fire after being struck by lightning.
A visibly pained Banerjee said that the communications system in the affected areas had completely collapsed. “Everything is finished. From embankment to houses to light posts, everything is destroyed,” the chief minister said. Banerjee said that she did not expect the cyclone of this magnitude to make landfall in Bengal.
The cyclone had made landfall at 2.30 pm between Digha in West Bengal and Hatiya island in Bangladesh before wreaking havoc across the coastal belt.
Here are the LIVE UPDATES:
- By the latest calculations, this is equivalent to a category 4 hurricane, says UK Met Office
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