Storm in West Bengal, Bihar, Assam leaves 110 dead

Raigunj/Kishangunj/Guwahati, Apr 14 (PTI) At least 110
people were killed and over 200 injured when a storm packed
with a windspeed of 125 kmph raged for 40 minutes leaving a
trail of destruction in North Dinajpur district in West Bengal
and neighbouring districts of Bihar and Assam states in east
India.
While 39 people were killed in North Dinajpur, 67 died
in five districts of Kishanganj, Araria, Supaul, Purnia and
Katihar in Bihar state in the storm that hit at midnight
Tuesday night.
Four persons were killed in Mankachar under Dhubri
district while the nor'wester also affected Jorhat, Tinsukia,
Sibsagar and Kamrup districts in Assam.
The toll could be much higher, the authorities said.
Hundreds of dwellings collapsed like a house of cards
and people cried out for help as the storm created havoc in
many areas.
"It was like a cyclone with people shouting Cyclone
Aila, which hit West Bengal last year. We prayed for early end
of nature's fury," Sudan Sahay, a resident of Araria, said.
North Dinajpur District Magistrate Ramanuj Chakraborty
said 17 people died in Karandighi block, six in Goalpokhor
block, seven in Raiganj, while Chakulia and Hemtabad blocks
accounted for three deaths each. Two others died in Kaliaganj
and one person in Itahar.
In neighbouring Kishenganj, Araria, Purnia, Supaul and
Katihar districts, 67 people were killed and 125 injured,
officials said.
Regional Met Centre Director G C Debnath said the
storm was a severe nor'wester.
West Bengal Chief Secretary Asok Mohan Chakraborty,
who put the toll at 32, told reporters in Kolkata that the
Centre has offered help to the state government. PTI COR
MRD


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