Home ›› 22 May 2020 ›› World Biz
Ahead of conducting the aerial survey of cyclone-hit areas in West Bengal with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today contended that the calamity, which has caused widespread devastation in the state and left around 80 dead, is 'more than a national disaster'.
"80 people died in this cyclone. We have evacuated more than 600,000 people," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told media.
According to Banerjee, the radius of the cyclone was 450 km.
"I have never seen anything like this in my life. There was severe disruption in electricity supply, even I did not have electricity at my home. Mobile connectivity has also been disrupted, but don't worry, everything will be alright," she said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi this afternoon announced a Rs 1,000 crore "advance interim assistance" for West Bengal after he undertook an aerial survey of the areas ravaged by the cyclone, accompanied by Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on a helicopter.
"Rs 1,000 crore advance assurance will be given to West Bengal," PM Modi said in Basirhat on North 24 Parganas district, after the aerial survey.
"All aspects relating to rehabilitation, reconstruction will be addressed. We all want West Bengal to move ahead. The centre will always stand with West Bengal in these testing times. We will work together to ensure that Bengal stands on its feet again," he said.
After West Bengal, Modi will fly onwards for an aerial survey of Odisha.
The cyclone also caused widespread devastation in Odisha, damaging power and telecom infrastructure in several coastal districts.
The cyclone swept through several parts of Bengal, including capital Kolkata on Wednesday, leaving behind a trail of destruction, with thousands of homes damaged, and trees and electric poles uprooted.
(Dource: NDTV)
