AIRPORT POOL
Kolkata Airport was submerged in a pool of water after cyclone Amphan lashed WB. The PMO’s office said that PM Modi will on Friday travel to West Bengal and Odisha to take stock of the situation, conduct aerial surveys and take part in review meetings. Amphan has left 72 people dead and thousands homeless in WB. It also wreaked havoc in Odisha
KOLKATA/BHUBANESWAR: Cyclone Amphan weakened Thursday, a day after tearing through West Bengal where 72 people were killed and two districts were completely devastated with thousands of people left homeless, bridges washed away and low-lying areas in waist deep water.
The fiercest cyclone to hit West Bengal in 100 years destroyed mud houses and crops, and uprooted trees and electric poles. It also wreaked havoc in Odisha damaging power and telecom infrastructure in several coastal districts. Odisha government officials estimated that the cyclone has affected around 44.8 lakh people in the state.
“So far as per the reports we have received, 72 people have died in the state due to Cyclone Amphan. Two districts -— North and South 24 Pargana — are completely devastated. We have to rebuild those districts from scratch. I would urge the Central government to extend all help to the state,” Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told reporters after conducting a review meeting with officials.
The Chief Minister also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh for the family members of each of the deceased. Besides North and South 24 Parganas and Kolkata, the districts of East Midnapore and Howrah were the worst hit as portions of several dilapidated buildings came crashing down in several places. The death toll included 17 from North 24 Parganas, 15 from Kolkata, 10 from Basirhat and four from the South 24 Parganas-Sunderban region, officials said.
PM to take aerial survey
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Friday travel to West Bengal and Odisha to take stock of the situation in the wake of cyclone Amphan wreaking havoc in the two states, the Prime Minister’s Office said. “He will conduct aerial surveys and take part in review meetings, where aspects of relief and rehabilitation will be discussed,” the PMO said in a tweet on Thursday night.
This will be Prime Minister’s first visit outside the national capital after coronavirus lockdown was imposed on the midnight of March 24.
In a series of tweets on Thursday, Modi said no stone will be left unturned in helping those affected by cyclone Amphan. “Have been seeing visuals from West Bengal on the devastation caused by Cyclone Amphan,” the Prime Minister tweeted.
In this challenging hour, the entire nation stands in solidarity with West Bengal, he said. “Praying for the well-being of the people of the state. Efforts are on to ensure normalcy,” he said.
National Disaster Response Force teams are working in the cyclone-affected parts, he pointed out.
“Top officials are closely monitoring the situation and also working in close coordination with the West Bengal government. No stone will be left unturned in helping the affected,” he said.