Uprooted trees, ravaged crop fields and the debris strewn everywhere on Monday told the tale of the mini-tornado that had struck swathes of Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar the previous afternoon.
The 10-minute rampage of nature that claimed four lives — the chief minister had mentioned five deaths on Sunday but the administration has scaled it down by one — damaged over 1,200 houses and left 6,000 people homeless.
Some 160 people were injured; around 70 of them are still under treatment.
“Villages in the Mainaguri block of Jalpaiguri are the worst affected. In two or three hamlets, nothing is intact apart from the roads,” a district official who had visited the disaster sites said.
“Huts have been blown away. In the case of concrete houses with tin roofs, only the walls are standing amid the rubble. Religious places and boundary walls have been damaged by falling trees. Only a small number of trees are standing in some areas, and power supply has taken a severe hit.”
This is the second natural disaster that north Bengal has faced in six months. On October 4 last year, the region — especially the hill district of Kalimpong and parts of Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar — had to endure flash floods in the Teesta that killed 14 people, disrupted travel and damaged property worth crores.
Sources in the administration said they were focusing on relief for now. “But the big task will be the rehabilitation. Some areas have virtually to be reconstructed as only debris can be seen everywhere,” an official said.
“We are yet to make a complete assessment of the loss. The power department has started installing new poles and laying distribution cables.”
The official said the disaster posed a particular challenge because it came just 18 days before Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar were to vote in the general election on April 19.
“It’s a challenge for us. We have to prepare for the elections while, at the same time, we have to work for the affected families staying in the relief camps or makeshift tents. Some families lack a change of clothes or utensils to cook,” he said.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had flown to Bagdogra on Sunday night after the tornado and visited Jalpaiguri. She met people till 2am and assured them of relief and rehabilitation.
On Monday morning, she visited Alipurduar. “The administration is making every effort to help. Many are staying in relief camps. Treatment is being provided to the injured,” Mamata said.
She underlined that she couldn’t make any announcements as the model code of conduct was in force.
Kalipada Roy, a farmer from Barnish of Mainaguri, said he couldn’t save anything. “We are a family of four and are staying in a makeshift tent. We are totally dependent on relief. If it rains, we shall have to move to a shelter home. We don’t know when things will be normal,” Roy said.
The Alipurduar-I and Kumargram blocks in Alipurduar and parts of the Mathabhanga subdivision in Cooch Behar have witnessed similar devastation. “At least 500 houses are completely damaged in these two districts. The families are in relief camps,” an official said.
The storm has taken centre-stage in Bengal politics. On Monday, Trinamul, led by its national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, blamed the Narendra Modi government for the large-scale damage.
Trinamul has highlighted Mamata’s prompt visit to Ground Zero while questioning the absence of BJP leaders.
An apparently cornered BJP tried to counter the charge. “The onus is on the administration to handle the situation. The chief minister came here only for photo ops,” said Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.
