Two dead, 100 injured in storm and hail fury

The gale also damaged over 12,000 houses in Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts

Houses destroyed at Sutkabari in Cooch Behar I block. : Pictures by Main Uddin Chisti and Anirban Choudhury

TT Bureau   |   Cooch Behar/Alipurduar/Jalpaiguri   |   19.04.22  : Two persons died and around 100 others got injured as a sudden storm, coupled with a hailstorm, rose in parts of Cooch Behar district and Falakata and Nagrakata blocks of neighbouring Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts late on Sunday.

The storm and hailstorm also damaged over 12,000 houses in these districts. While the storm was stronger in Cooch Behar, the hailstorm was more fierce in the two blocks of Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri.

Administrative officials of the affected areas and along with elected representatives of panchayats concerned have reached out to the affected families, many of whom have become homeless, with relief materials and shelter.

Leaders of political parties have also visited the affected areas and distributed relief materials.

A villager holds a hailstone at Falakata in Alipurduar district. : Telegraph photo

“The storm lasted for barely  20 minutes but was so fierce that tin-roof houses turned into debris within minutes. Several trees and electric poles were uprooted and fell on the roads. After the storm, there was a bout of hailstorm which worsened the damage,” said Balaram Singha, a resident of Sutkabari, one of the worst affected areas in Cooch Behar-I block.

Jahangir Alam. 16, a resident of the block, died after a tin blown away by the storm fell on him. Debdas Pal, 57, a resident of Ghughumari in the same block, died struck by lightning.

“There had been extensive damage in the storm. Two persons have lost their lives. We are assessing the damage and giving relief to every affected person,” said Sheikh Rakibur Rehman, the SDO of Cooch Behar Sadar subdivision.

The storm also affected Mathabhanga-II and Dinhata-II blocks of the district. “Owing to the storm, around 100 people were injured. Some 50 are hospitalised,” said a source in the administration.

In Falakata town and surrounding areas of Alipurduar district, the impact of the storm was comparatively less. But the residents were caught by surprise by an intense hailstorm on Sunday late evening.

“We have seen hailstorms earlier but yesterday (Sunday) hailstones weighing 2 kilos to 3 kilos fell from the sky,” said Pradip Muhuri, the chairman of Falakata municipality.

According to him, around 7,000 houses in the town and adjoining areas were partially damaged by the hailstorm.

“Hailstones pierced  tin roofs and injured a number of people. Homes apart, government buildi, schools and vehicles have been damaged due to the hailstorm,” he added.

In Nagrakata block of Jalpaiguri district, the storm, along with the hailstorm, caused damage to around 2,500 houses, especially in villages located under Sulkapara and Luksan panchayats.

“The storm and hailstorm lasted for around 30 minutes and caused huge damage. Some houses got damaged as trees fell on them while some others were damaged by the hailstorm. We have distributed relief materials. A preliminary report (on the areas, number of injured, number of houses damaged and action taken) has been sent to the district administration,” said Bipul Mondal, the BDO of Nagrakata.