Cyclone Amphan highlights: PM Modi to undertake aerial survey of West Bengal and Odisha as cyclone claims 72 lives

That concludes our coverage of the latest updates on cyclone Amphan, do join us tomorrow for the top developments, until then stay safe, stay secure.

The India Meteorological Department said on Thursday that 'Amphan' has weakened significantly and moved over to Bangladesh as a cyclonic storm after clobbering West Bengal, leaving at least 12 dead and blowing up shanties, uprooting thousands of trees and swamping low-lying areas.

In the next three to six hours it will further dissipate into a deep depression and a depression, the two stages that signify a further weakening of the cyclone, it said.

The IMD said under the influence of the storm, squalls with wind speed 30 to 40 kilometres per hour are very likely in Meghalaya and west Assam during the next 12 hours.

72 killed in West Bengal; PM Modi to take aerial view of WB, Odisha on May 22

Around 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 in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said. 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. The PMO tweeted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi  will take an aerial view of West Bengal and Odisha on May 22. "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.

PM Modi: No stone will be left unturned to help those affected by cyclone

No stone will be left unturned in helping those affected by cyclone 'Amphan', Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday. The cyclone has left at least 12 people dead and damaged infrastructure in West Bengal.

"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.

The prime minister said his thoughts are with the people of Odisha as the state bravely battles the effects of the cyclone.

The authorities, Modi said, are working on the ground to ensure all possible assistance to those affected.

"I pray that the situation normalises at the earliest," he said.

 

Cyclone Amphan leaves behind a trail of destruction in West Bengal, 12 dead

Kolkata and several other parts of West Bengal wore a battered look on Thursday after the extremely severe cyclone 'Amphan' ripped through the state, leaving 12 people dead and blowing away shanties, uprooting thousands of trees besides swamping low-lying areas. There are unconfirmed reports of eight more deaths from various parts of the state.

Large parts of Kolkata and other affected districts were without electricity as power poles had been blown away. Mobile and internet services were also down as the cyclone had damaged several communication towers

Senior state officials said it was too early to estimate a toll on life or damage to property as the hardest-hit areas were still not accessible.

 

The fiercest cyclone in West Bengal’s history of 100 years packed heavy rains and winds with speeds of up to 190 kmph

Amphan is the most fiercest cyclone to hit the state in the last 100 years.  Packing heavy rain and winds with speeds of up to 190 kmph, the cyclone slammed Digha coast of West Bengal at 2.30 pm on Wednesday, triggering heavy rainfall in various parts of the state.

 

Mamata calls Amphan worse than coronavirus 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been monitoring the situation at state secretariat Nabanna since Tuesday night, said the impact of Amphan was "worse than coronavirus".

While a man and a woman were killed when trees came crashing down on them in North 24 Parganas district, a 13-year-old girl died in a similar incident in adjoining Howrah, officials said.

Four persons were killed in Hooghly and North 24 Parganas districts due to electrocution, they said.

A woman and her seven-year-old son were killed in the Regent park area of Kolkata after a tree fell on them, while two persons died due to electrocution in Behala area, the officials said.

They said a person was killed in Kolkata after being hit by a flying object during the storm.

 

East Midnapore, Howrah, North and South 24 Pargana worst-hit

The districts of East Midnapore, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas along with the state capital has been the worst hit.

The cyclone barrelled through coastal districts of North and South 24 Parganas of Bengal, unleashing copious rain and windstorm, blowing away thatched houses, uprooting trees, electric poles and swamping low lying towns and villages, officials said.

Strong winds with speed up to 125 kmph per hour upturned cars in Kolkata and felled trees and electricity poles blocking important roads and intersections.

At Kolkata central avenue, a small concrete temple situated at the base of a banyan tree was uprooted.

More than 500 trees, along with few hundred electric posts, traffic signals and police kiosks have been uprooted, said a KMC official.

Reports arriving in Kolkata from North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore said roofs of thatched houses were blown away, electric poles got twisted and hundreds of trees broken and uprooted.

Thousands of people have been rendered homeless in these districts due to the cyclone last night, officials said.