A cyclonic storm swept through West Bengal on Sunday afternoon, resulting in at least five fatalities and over 100 injuries. The powerful winds caused extensive damage to homes and uprooted trees in the district headquarters and parts of neighbouring Mainaguri. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already departed for the affected region, and ongoing rescue efforts are in progress.Expressing her concern, CM Banerjee tweeted, Sad to know that sudden heavy rainfall and stormy winds brought disasters this afternoon in some Jalpaiguri-Mainaguri areas, with loss of human lives, injuries, house damages, uprooting of trees, and electricity poles. District and block administration, police, DMG, and QRT teams swung into disaster management operations and provided relief.Efforts are underway to relocate affected individuals to safer areas, with the CM assuring that compensation will be provided to the families of the deceased and assistance to the injured as per established protocols and the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).#WATCH | Four people have lost their lives and over 100 others are injured in the cyclone incident in West Bengals Jalpaiguri as the area was severely hit by rain and hailstorms resulting in damage to houses, buildings and crops. pic.twitter.com/Hn04jB2szq— ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2024According to BJP MP Jayanta Kumar Roy, Around 166 patients came to the hospital with injuries, and 36 of them have been admitted here. Three people were brought in dead, bringing the total death toll to four.#WATCH | Rain and hailstorms hit several parts of West Bengals Jalpaiguri causing damage to houses, buildings and crops.Four people have lost their lives and over 100 others are injured in the cyclone incident: Jalpaiguri SP pic.twitter.com/vPMPa8PYVO— ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2024In response to the crisis, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has set up an emergency cell at Raj Bhavan to address the storms impact in Jalpaiguri. The Raj Bhavan issued a statement indicating that the Governor is coordinating with the Disaster Management Authority in Delhi, urging for additional manpower and resources to be sent to Jalpaiguri. The Governor is also in contact with the Central Home Ministry and plans to visit Jalpaiguri the following day to assess the situation firsthand and meet with affected residents.
