Kolkata: At least six people have died in West Bengal after Cyclone Remal made landfall in the Sundarbans delta between Sagar Island of South 24 Parganas and Khepupara in Bangladesh on Sunday night and brought heavy rains that destroyed properties and crops in the plains of the eastern state.
Most of the deaths were due to electrocution. Two among them, Phorey Singh and his young son Tarun, were from Memari in Burdwan East. They came in contact with a live wire while removing an uprooted banana tree after the cyclone and died.
At Panihati in North 24 Parganas, Gopal Burman (47) lost his life after he touched an electric wire that was illegally routed from a pole to a shop but got snapped and was lying on the road.
At Maheshtala in South 24 Parganas, a woman, Tapasi Das (53), was electrocuted after she stepped onto a live wire lying in a waterlogged road. Meanwhile another woman, Renuka Mondal (80), died at Mousuni Island in South 24 Parganas after a tree fell on her house.
At Entally in central Kolkata, a man, Mohammad Sajid (51), died after a concrete chunk got dislodged from the balcony of a house and fell on him. In Kolkata, a nightlong downpour left many roads from North to South either waterlogged or blocked by uprooted trees.
This led to cancellation of the Lok Sabha election campaign rallies of many ruling and Opposition party leaders for the second day, ahead of the final phase of polls on June 1.
The rain is likely to continue Tuesday, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lead a roadshow in Kolkata North parliamentary constituency in support of BJP candidate Tapas Roy after addressing a rally in Barasat in North 24 Parganas.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee posted on X: “West Bengal is a riverine state, on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. So we have to face various natural disasters every year. This time also, massive damage has occurred and is taking place in our state due to the impact of Cyclone Remale.”
She said: “But human life comes above everything. Fortunately and certainly due to the steps of the state administration, the loss of life this time is relatively less. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. Financial assistance will be reached to their loved ones immediately.”
The CM said: “The administration will now look into the distribution of compensation for the damage to crops and houses as per the law and we will consider these issues more seriously once the model code of conduct ends. Our administration was prepared this time at all levels for disaster management despite the business of election arrangement.”
She added: “From the chief secretary to the entire secretariat of my state to the district administration to the block administration -- all unitedly stand by the people and will continue to do so in disaster management in future. Our municipalities panchayats also have the credit of moving two lakh people to 1,400 camps in safe places. For this, I express my sincere thanks to all in the state and local administration. I firmly believe that with the cooperation of all we shall overcome this storm too. I know you are worried over this disaster. We are worried also. But don't be afraid, don't worry. We will do everything necessary to deal with the situation.”
