SIDR lashes Bangladesh, South Bengal experiences heavy rains

Kolkata, Nov 15 (UNI) Cyclone SIDR is crossing Bangladesh coast around 100 km east of Sagar Islands in South Bengal resulting in heavy rains in North and South 24 Parganas and Nadia districts.

Met office sources told UNI that, ''SIDR has a wind speed of 220 kmph at its epicentre.'' Kolkata felt the splinter effect of the cyclone as scattered to heavy rains have started in different parts of the city.

''In Kolkata, the wind speed will be below 100 kmph, but the city will experience moderate to heavy rains in the next 24 hours,'' the Met office sources said.

The most affected areas in West Bengal are Kakdwip, Namkhana, Mathurapur of South 24 Parganas and Sandeshkhali, Hingalganj, Hasnabad, Basirhat and Swarupnagar in North 24 Parganas. All these areas border Bangladesh where cyclone SIDR has lashed with all its might.

The East Midnapur District Authorities have started evacuating people in the coastal areas to safer places in view of the warning.

''We have started miking and evacuation in the coastal areas especially at Digha, Sankarpur, Mandarboni, Haldia and Nandigram asking people to evacuate to safer places,'' District Magistrate Anup Agarwal said.

''We have also stocked relief materials in these areas and medical teams have been sent. The local Panchayats have been warned to keep a close vigil on the situation,'' he said.

Meanwhile, strong winds and tall waves lashed Digha, Sankarpur and Mandarboni and all the sea resorts looked deserted. Fishermen and trawlers have been asked not to venture out to the sea.

In West Midnapur district, drizzle with strong winds started in the evening and most of the streets in the town areas looked desolate.

Meanwhile, Eastern Railway has cancelled all its night trains to South Bengal, while South Eastern Railways had cancelled 11 trains in fear of the cyclone.

UNI