One killed, 15,000 affected by storm in Bengal

Kolkata, Nov 16 (UNI) One person was killed and about 15,000 people were affected as a storm hit two districts of West Bengal before veering off to Bangladesh taking the form of a cyclone.

Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta told reporters today that in all, 1,151 thatched houses were either destroyed or partially damaged, while crops spread over 7,500 hectare perished in the calamity in North and South 24 Parganas districts yesterday night.

''A middle aged person died at Swarup Nagar in North 24 Parganas and in all, 14,785 people were affected. The State Government has sanctioned Rs 15 crore for carrying out relief operations in the two districts, '' he said.

While South 24 Parganas was the worst hit district, the Sagar islands, Namkhana, Pathar Pratima and Hingalganj bore the brunt of the storm, he said.

UNI