Storm kills seven

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 3: A nor’wester, bringing torrential showers, claimed at least seven lives today, including those of four minors and one woman in Malda district. Raging for around an hour, it reduced parts of English Bazaar, Kaliachak and Manikchak Blocks into heaps of debris. Power poles were grounded, trees were uprooted and lightning struck at random. The district remains plunged in darkness as the power supply is yet to be restored.

At least four persons were killed in villages under Kalichak-II. Most of the deaths were attributed to electrocution by lightning. One Khagendranath Mandal (45) died at Motabari when a tree fell on him during the storm. Housewife Parul Ghosh (27) of the same area was electrocuted. She was returning home when the storm lashed in.

At Bangitola under Kaliachak-II, one Sadikul Sheikh (12) and Mim (8) of Gangaprasad gram panchayat were electrocuted while picking up mangoes that had fallen in the storm.

The Malda sub-divisional officer, Mr Prakash Pal, confirmed the death of Pramod Mandal (12), a resident of Kamalpur, and Phulkumar Mandal (23) of Hiranandapur under Manikchak Block. While the former died after being hit by a fallen branch, the latter was electrocuted.

At Naraharipur under English Bazaar Block, Rumki Mandal (7) was electrocuted as a severed electric wire fell on her.

Two persons have been admitted to district hospital so far after suffering injuries in the storm.

Many houses are reported to have been damaged in three blocks. Reports from the other blocks are yet to come.

The storm, which began at about 10.30 a.m., appears to have extensively damaged the mango crop that this district is known for. Those associated with this sector are apprehending enormous loss. Besides the impact of the storm, the production volume has been relatively low this year.