Freak storm hits northern suburbs

Ashokenagar/Krishnagore: The day after Yaas’ landfall, a tornado-like severe cyclonic storm, which lasted for a few minutes, hit areas in Ashokenagar, Chakdaha and Shantipur in North 24 Parganas and Nadia on Thursday morning, causing severe damage. More than 150 houses and 50 shops were destroyed and several trees and electric poles were uprooted during the storm in the two districts.

The tornado hit Ashokenagar around 4.30am and lasted a couple of minutes. According to locals, the storm, which had a diameter of nearly 200m, moved from north to south. Guma, Shaktinagar, Jirat and Khristanpara were the worst-hit places. According to administrative sources, the extent of damage is yet to be ascertained.

“We heard thunder when the storm hit. Within seconds, more than 30 houses, including mine, as well as several shops were demolished and about 150 to 200 trees were uprooted,” said Narayan Roy from Guma.

Nadia’s Chakdaha and Shantipur were also severely affected in the storm that lasted over five minutes. The storm moved through Chakdaha’s Chakberia, Gangaprasadpur, Chowrungi More and Poradanga villages. In Shantipur, villages, like Bagachra, Kulia and Karamchapur, were affected and more than 100 mud houses were destroyed. “The district administration, with NDRF, visited affected areas to rescue people,” an official said.