4 Dead, Over 100 Injured As Cyclonic Storm Hits Bengal's Jalpaiguri, Heavy Rain In Assam | Updates

Four persons were killed and at least 70 people were injured after a cyclonic storm hit parts of West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district on Sunday. The severe weather conditions have also taken a toll on Assam where a portion of the ceiling at Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport collapsed due to heavy rainfall.

Here are the latest updates:

• The storm in North Bengal damaged many houses and uprooted several trees as strong winds devastated most parts of Jalpaiguri town and many areas of the neighbouring Mainaguri.
• On the other hand, the ensuing weather conditions also created havoc in northeastern India. After heavy rainfall and wind, flight operations were affected due to adverse weather conditions Guwahati.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his official X account to express his concern on the current situation. He said, “My thoughts are with those affected by the storms in Jalpaiguri-Mainaguri areas of West Bengal. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. “
• Meanwhile, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee reached Bagdogra airport in Siliguri and will visit Jalpaiguri to take stock of the situation and meet the cyclone-affected people.
• She said, “A disaster occurred due to which several houses were damaged and 5 people died. Two others are in serious condition. The administration is on the spot and providing necessary help. Government is doing everything possible to help the victims.”
• The Guwahati airport authority notified that the roof outlets got heavily overflowed and water was instilled inside the terminal building.
• As per their official statement, “Outside the terminal building, a small portion of the ceiling fell open due to the pressure of water and wind. There is no injury or damage.”
• Around six flights got diverted to Agartala and Kolkata due to the adverse weather condition, however later operations were resumed to normal, the Guwahati airport authority stated.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that two western disturbances are likely to affect the Himalayan region till April 5 while adding that isolated to scattered rainfall or snowfall accompanied with thunderstorms and lighting are very likely over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Muzaffarabad Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand till April 6.

On the other hand, states like Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh will be under the effect of western disturbances till April 5. Weather department’s scientist Abhijeet Chakraborty said MP will witness rain and storms in a few districts due to a combination of cyclonic circulation, trough, and western disturbance.

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• A cyclonic circulation lies over northeast Assam and a north-south trough runs from east Bihar to north Bay of Bengal said IMD, adding widespread to widespread light or moderate rainfall and snowfall with isolated thunderstorms and lightning very likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Sikkim till April 4.
• The weather department has suggested avoiding roadway underpasses, drainage ditches, low-lying areas, and areas where water collects.
• Flight operations were affected due to adverse weather conditions in Assam leading to uprooting of trees.
• With the IMD forecasting hot and humid conditions across Odisha in the coming days, the state government on Saturday announced morning classes for students in all schools.
• In a letter to all district collectors, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Satyabrata Sahu asked them to take immediate measures to mitigate the hot and humid weather and ensure that no casualty takes place due to the possible heat wave condition.
• Earlier the weather department in an evening bulletin, said due to prevailing dry conditions in major parts of the state and high solar insolation, maximum temperature is likely to be between 38 to 40 degrees Celsius at many places in interior parts and between 36 to 38 degrees in the coastal districts during next 4 to 5 days.
• Heat wave conditions are very likely over Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Karnataka, Rayalaseema, and Telangana till April 4.

Meanwhile, rain and hailstorms hit several parts of West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri causing damage to houses, buildings and crops. At least four people have lost their lives and over 100 others are injured in the cyclone incident said Jalpaiguri SP.

(with inputs from agencies)