A freak tornado and thunderstorms on Sunday evening cut a swathe of devastation through three north Bengal regions, killing five people, injuring more than 300 people, and rendered hundreds homeless. An ensuing hailstorm coupled with the storm, videos of which flooded social media, also damaged more than 800 houses, uprooted several trees and electric poles as gusty winds racked most parts of Jalpaiguri and multiple regions in the neighbouring Mainaguri. It also triggered a fierce political blame-game between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the storm. Taking to X, he urged BJP workers to assist the affected people and added that he had asked officials to ensure “proper assistance”.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed concern over the storm which also affected parts of Assam and Manipur. He spoke to the Chief Ministers of all three States and assured all help to tackle the situation.
The Union Home Minister wrote on social media: “I am deeply concerned about the massive damage in West Bengal, Assam and Manipur due to the storm. Spoke to the Chief Ministers and assured all possible assistance. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and speedy recovery to the injured.” Shah appealed to all BJP functionaries to stand by the victims during this crisis and help them in all possible ways.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee air-dashed to Jalpaiguri on Monday night and visited the Jalpaiguri Super Specialty Hospital to meet the injured people. She took stock of the situation and met the families of the victims, while asserting that the State Government was standing by the affected people, and will do everything possible to aid them. Governor CV Ananda Bose and Leader of the Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari took commercial flights to Bagdogra on Monday morning to reach the affected regions.
Speaking to reporters, Governor Bose termed the natural disaster “very unfortunate”.
“There is loss of lives in the storm. All the agencies are working together. Everything will be done,” he added.
Trinamool Congress’ second-in-command Abhishek Banerjee blamed the Central Government for the devastation. “If the Modi Government had not stopped the Awas Yojana funds, then these unfortunate people would not have been forced to live in thatched houses that collapsed in the wind,” he said while leaving for the region.
BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, after meeting the injured people admitted to Jaipaiguri General Hospital, said that the Chief Minister had gone for a “photo-session”. “There was no need to go at night. The CM is doing nothing but ‘tu khich meri photo’. BJP doesn”t need these. Our MPs, MLAs, party workers, and volunteers have already done the work.” He also alleged that the injured people were suffering more since “Mamata Banerjee, who is the State’s Health Minister, had failed to develop the health infrastructure in north Bengal. Those with nerve damage will not get any services because there are no neurosurgeons in Government medical colleges from Alipurduar to Malda. Why couldn’t the Government make arrangements in the last 13 years?” he asked.
Shuvendu also complained that the rescue work was not being done properly. He complained: “Most of the work has been done by NDRF. The rest of the work is going very slowly. It is more work to take photos than work.”
He added that 800 houses in three villages had been damaged. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given Rs 45,000 crore rupees to build 42 lakh houses in the State. So why should people be forced to live in kutcha houses? The fact is the Trinamool party has stolen all the money.”
Meanwhile the Trinamool Congress released a video on its X handle which showed patients protesting Adhikari’s visit to the hospital to meet the injured people due to which the hospital authorities had closed the OPD department
Senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh said: “Polls are starting in North Bengal, and before that, BJP’s storm has started.”
The calamity also prompted Mamata Banerjee to advance her north Bengal visit. Earlier, she was supposed to start her visit on April 4, and had lined up rallies at Cooch Behar and Alipurduar which vote in the first phase of elections. The Chief Minister is scheduled to visit north Bengal one more time before the second phase of elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also scheduled to visit Cooch Behar for a public meeting on April 4.