Cyclone causes devastation at Minakha in North 24 Parganas

Basirhat, Sep 24 (UNI) Barely 15 hours after yesterday's tornado at Bagnan, Minakha in the southern part of North 24 Parganas experienced a cyclone early this morning.

Panchayat Samiti Sabhapati Bibhas Mandal said here that the cyclone blew away the roofs of more than 25 huts at the thickly populated area of Bamanpukur and a few residents sustained minor injuries.

Mr Mandal and Block Development Officer Kaushik Sarkar, along with other officials, rushed to Bamanpukur to take stock of the situation and arrange relief for the victims.

Several trees and electric poles around the local gram panchayat office were uprooted due to the cyclone, he said.

The embankment of river Bidyadhari at Minakha was also destroyed, Mr Mandal added.

Meanwhile, the local administration evacuated 218 inhabitants, including 108 children, from the Hulapara area and shifted them to two primary schools. Food and other relief materials were also provided to them, he added.

North 24 Parganas District Magistrate Prabhat Mishra said the block officials of vulnerable areas in Basirhat subdivision were alerted considering the intensity of the current spell of rain and storm.

UNI