Severe storm claims nine lives, causes widespread damage in West Bengal

In a devastating natural disaster, a severe storm accompanied by strong winds and heavy rain wreaked havoc across various districts of West Bengal. The storm caused significant damage, uprooting trees and electric poles, and tragically claiming the lives of at least nine people, including a 12-year-old child. The incident occurred on Monday night and left several others injured.

Howrah, one of the affected areas, witnessed the highest number of casualties. Kaushik Dhali, a resident of Ranaghat in Nadia district, tragically lost his life when a tree branch fell on him while he was seeking shelter under a tree in Mangal Pandey Garden in Barrackpore. Additionally, a 19-year-old girl sustained injuries in the same garden.

Saraswati Biswas, a 40-year-old woman from Mohanpur, Barrackpore, also lost her life when a coconut tree toppled near her house. In Howrah, three fatalities were reported. Khushbu Yadav, a 12-year-old girl, succumbed to electrocution while returning home from tuition. Another victim, Rajni Pandey (42), was tragically trapped under an uprooted tree in Bagnan, Howrah, where she had sought shelter during the storm. Ramchandra Mondal, a 65-year-old man, died after his room's ceiling collapsed due to the fierce winds.

The storm's impact extended beyond Howrah, with other districts experiencing the destructive force of the weather system. Prasun Ghoshal, a 19-year-old, was electrocuted while attempting to switch off the electricity connection to a local Kali Puja pandal in Shyampur. Ashraf Khan (50) of Panskuda in East Midnapore lost his life while commuting home. Sanka Mahanta (63) and Malti Murmu (63) tragically died after being buried under a fallen tree during a thunderstorm in Belpahari.

The storm, locally known as "Kaal Baisakhi," led to the total loss of nine lives across the state. Reports indicate that the storm brought wind speeds of up to 84 kilometers per hour, resulting in the snapping of numerous tree branches throughout Kolkata. The impact on infrastructure was significant, with a tree falling on a car between Victoria and Red Roads, fortunately sparing the occupants' lives. The fallen tree caused temporary road closures, including the one in front of Victoria. Other affected areas included Hospital Road, Park Street-Rawden Street Crossing, Hasting Park Road, Hyde Road, Belvedere Road, Sarat Bose Road, Baker Road, Elgin Road, Lake Garden, Red Road, and Maidan.

Notably, the severe weather disrupted the public relations campaign of Abhishek Banerjee, a prominent figure in the Trinamool Congress. The traffic signal in front of South City Mall was damaged, leading to increased congestion. A tree falling on James Long Sarani further disrupted vehicular movement. The storm's impact extended beyond Kolkata, affecting various areas in Howrah, Nadia, East Medinipur, West Medinipur, North 24 Parganas, and South 24 Parganas. Consequently, Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee's scheduled program had to be canceled due to the inclement weather. His convoy encountered obstructions along the road due to uprooted trees.

The authorities are working diligently to restore normalcy and provide assistance to affected individuals and families.