Four persons were killed and at least 70 people were injured after a cyclonic storm hit parts of West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district on Sunday. The severe weather conditions have also taken a toll on Assam where a portion of the ceiling at Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport collapsed due to heavy rainfall.
HERE ARE THE LATEST UPDATES:
- The storm in North Bengal damaged many houses and uprooted several trees as strong winds devastated most parts of Jalpaiguri town and many areas of the neighbouring Mainaguri.
- On the other hand, the ensuing weather conditions also created havoc in northeastern India. After heavy rainfall and wind, flight operations were affected due to adverse weather conditions Guwahati.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his official X account to express his concern on the current situation. He said, “My thoughts are with those affected by the storms in Jalpaiguri-Mainaguri areas of West Bengal. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. “
- Meanwhile, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee reached Bagdogra airport in Siliguri and will visit Jalpaiguri to take stock of the situation and meet the cyclone-affected people.
- She said, “A disaster occurred due to which several houses were damaged and 5 people died. Two others are in serious condition. The administration is on the spot and providing necessary help. Government is doing everything possible to help the victims.”
- The Guwahati airport authority notified that the roof outlets got heavily overflowed and water was instilled inside the terminal building.
- As per their official statement, “Outside the terminal building, a small portion of the ceiling fell open due to the pressure of water and wind. There is no injury or damage.”
- Around six flights got diverted to Agartala and Kolkata due to the adverse weather condition, however later operations were resumed to normal, the Guwahati airport authority stated.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that two western disturbances are likely to affect the Himalayan region till April 5 while adding that isolated to scattered rainfall or snowfall accompanied with thunderstorms and lighting are very likely over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Muzaffarabad Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand till April 6.
On the other hand, states like Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh will be under the effect of western disturbances till April 5. Weather department’s scientist Abhijeet Chakraborty said MP will witness rain and storms in a few districts due to a combination of cyclonic circulation, trough, and western disturbance.