Cyclone in West Bengal kill more than 20 People

Cyclone Aila spawned from a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal to hit West Bengal on Monday leaving more than 20 people dead and a population of 1.10 lakh affected, before gradually weakening. The highest number of 14 deaths, according to official sources, was reported from South 24 Parganas district, followed by five in the metropolis and one each in Bankura and Howrah districts. "The cyclone, now lying stationery 50 km west of Kolkata, hit the West Bengal coast at 1.30 pm near Sagar Island. It is moving in a northerly direction and will weaken gradually," Regional Meteorological Centre Director G C Debnath told the news agency. "Rains, however, will continue throughout tomorrow," he said.

A severe storm with a wind speed of 110 kmph accompanied by heavy rainfall preceded the cyclone ripping through Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Burdwan and East Midnapore districts at 110 kmph. Unofficial reports, however, put the toll at 26 and the number of affected at over two lakh. Trees were uprooted at several places here leading to severe dislocation of traffic as trams stopped running with power to overhead wires being switched off. Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said he had alerted the army, while BSF and police have begun rescue operations in Sunderbans in coastal South 24 Parganas district where hundreds of thatched houses had collapsed. The army was moving into Sandeshkhali and Hingalganj in North 24 Parganas and at Sagardwip, Gosaba and Patharpratima in South 24 Parganas.