Mamata Banerjee announce a compensation of Rs 2.5 Lakh to the families of those who died in Cyclone Amphan.
Kolkata, May 21:
72 people have died due to Cyclone Amphan in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said today, a day after the powerful cyclone destroyed thousands of homes, uprooting trees, electric poles and flooding low lying areas, leaving authorities struggling to mount relief efforts amid the coronavirus crisis.
“There have been casualties. I announce a compensation of Rs 2.5 Lakh to the families of those who died in Cyclone Amphan,” the chief minister said.
Ms Banerjee said she had never seen such a disaster before and will ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the state and see the situation. The chief minister had last evening said the impact of Amphan was worse than the coronavirus pandemic and claimed damages due to the cyclone could be in the region of Rs 1 lakh crore.
Bengal took the brunt of Cyclone Amphan, which barrelled into the coast with gusting winds of up to 185 km per hour. The cyclone ripped through the coastal districts of North and South 24 Paraganas of Bengal with heavy rain and windstorm, blowing away thatched houses, uprooting trees, electric poles and flooding low lying areas.
Strong winds with speed up to 125 kmph per hour upturned cars in Kolkata and left trees and electricity poles torn off and blocking roads. Portions of several decrepit buildings came crashing down in Kolkata. The Kolkata airport, which had been shut, was left flooded and many structures within damaged.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the entire nation stands with Bengal and “no stone will be left unturned” to help those affected.
