Source: The Sangai Express / PTI
Kolkata, May 25 2009:
Cyclone Aila made a landfall in West Bengal today, killing over 20 people, affecting over a lakh and leaving behind a trail of destruction before gradually weakening.
"The cyclone, now lying stationery 50 km west of Kolkata, hit the West Bengal coast at 1.30 pm near Sagar Island.
It is moving in a northerly direction and will weaken gradually," Regional Meteorological Centre Director GC Debnath told PTI tonight.
"Rains, however, will continue throughout tomorrow," he said.
A severe storm with a wind speed of 110 kmph accompanied by heavy rainfall preceded the cyclone that had formed in the Bay of Bengal from a very deep depression last night.
It ripped through Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Burdwan and East Midnapore districts at 110 kmph, killing at least 19 people and affected a population of 1.10 lakh, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Finance Minister Ashim Dasgupta told newsmen here.
Unofficial reports, however, put the toll at 26 and the number of affected at over two lakh.
The Chief Minister said that the cyclone's tail was now in neighbouring Howrah district and had spared Kolkata.
Dasgupta said the army was moving into Sandeshkhali and Hingalganj in North 24 Parganas and Gosaba, Patharpratima and Sagardwip areas in South 24 Parganas districts.
The BSF would rescue people marooned by heavy rains at Sandeshkhali tomorrow morning.
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee would visit Kakdwip in South Parganas district tomorrow.
Earlier, incessant rains accompanied by a strong wind reaching 100 to 120 kmph, hit the metropolis and all flights, including international ones at the NSC Bose international airport were suspended from 2 pm, official sources said.
Trees were uprooted at several places here leading to severe dislocation of traffic as trams stopped running with power to overhead wires being switched off.
Offices declared a half-day holiday and schools closed early.
There was a mad rush for transport as thousands of home-bound commuters thronged bus stops.
Streets were littered with uprooted trees which blocked 32 roads, causing total disruption of transport services.
The Chief Minister said he had a talk with the Union Finance Minister for deploying the army in South 24 Parganas.
Dasgupta said that though the course of cyclone had shifted from Kolkata, a general alert would continue to be in force in Hooghly, Howrah, Burdwan and East Midnapore districts.