Cyclone Aila hits Bengal, 19 killed

Kolkata, May 25 (PTI) Cyclone Aila made a landfall in
India's eastern state of West Bengal Monday, killing 19
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 G C
Debnath told PTI Monday night.

"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 Sunday
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 Tuesday morning.

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee would visit Kakdwip
in South Parganas district Tuesday.

Earlier, incessant rains accompanied by a strong wind
reaching 100 to 120 kmph, hit the metropolis and all flights,
including international ones at the N S C Bose international
airport were suspended from 2 pm IST, 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, many of which were flooded, causing total
disruption of transport services.

The chief minister said he had a talk with Union Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee 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.

"There will be constant monitoring for the next few
days on the overall situation in these districts," he said.

He said that the chief minister, who reviewed the
situation with ministers, Home Secretary A Sen and district
magistrates of South and North 24 Parganas would leave for
Nimpith in South 24 Parganas Tuesday.

Dasgupta said he would visit affected areas in North 24
Parganas district Tuesday.

He said district magistrates in coastal areas had been
asked to keep relief materials ready. PTI AKB
PMR