Kishangunj, April 15: A severe nor’wester packed with a wind speed of 125 kmph left 120 people dead, hundreds injured and a swathe of destruction in seven districts of Bihar, West Bengal and Assam.
Bihar accounted for the highest number of 77 deaths in five districts, followed by West Bengal with 39 in one district and Assam where four persons perished in one district in the storm that struck at midnight on Tuesday.
The fatalities in Bihar occurred in Purnia (33), Araria (33), Katihar (7), Supaul (2) and Kishenganj (2) districts.
In West Bengal, all 39 deaths were reported from in North Dinajpur district while in Assam four died in Dhubri district.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1.50 lakh to next of kin of each of the deceased, besides ordering construction of pucca houses under the Indira Awas Yojana and foodgrains.
West Bengal government said Rs 2 lakh would be paid to next of kin of each of those who were killed in North Dinajpur.
Centre offers help
The Centre has offered its help to the West Bengal government in tackling the devastation caused by the severe nor’wester in four blocks of North Dinajpur district.
“I contacted the cabinet secretary to brief him. The Centre has enquired about the devastation. The Centre is willing to assist the state government,” Chief Secretary Asok Mohan Chakraborty told reporters at Writers’ Buildings.
Stating that the storm left 32 dead in four blocks of the district and many injured last night, Chakraborty said Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had instructed arrangement of immediate medical facilities for the injured and shelter for the hundreds rendered homeless.
He said that Rs five lakh was disbursed from the Calamity Relief Fund for the affected people.
Orders were also issued to release 1,000 tonne of rice, dry food, tarpaulin sheets, dhotis, saris and children’s garments for the affected villages.
Drinking water was also being sent, while five medical teams were sent to the spot.
Some of the seriously injured people were admitted to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, Siliguri. Small Scale Industries Minister Manab Mukherjee and Disaster Management Secretary M L Meena also left for the affected areas.
The chief secretary said that the storm caused widespread damage and levelled 50,000-60,000 dwelling units totally and a few partially.
—-PTI