7 dead in storm, lightning in West Bengal: Officials

At least seven people were killed and more than 15 injured in storm and lightning since Tuesday in five districts of West Bengal, officials said on Wednesday.

They said four people died in East Burdwan, two in Alipurduar and one in Hooghly.

Normal life was disrupted in several areas in these districts as well as Nadia and Cooch Behar as strong winds knocked down electricity poles and trees, caused mud houses and walls to collapse and disrupted power supplies.

A lawyer Asif Sheikh, 28, died when a tree collapsed on him in a court in Kalna area of East Burdwan district. Two other lawyers were also injured in the accident.

Six people were injured in Kalna, where some houses were also damaged. The injured were taken to hospitals.

“We have sought reports about the damages and also working to bring back normalcy,“ Nitin Singhania, sub-divisional officer of Kalna, said.

Lakshman Bag, 50, died after he was struck by lightning while working in the field in Mithapur village of Galsi II Block in East Burdwan district. Ashok Shah, 54, was also struck by lightning in Mera Mostapur village of Katwa area of the district. Sixty-two-year-old Abdur Gayen also died in East Burdwan district.

One person died on Wednesday morning in a house collapse in Guptipara of Hooghly district and two were killed by lightning in Kumargram area of Alipurduar district, according to officials.

The meteorological department has predicted a storm in south Bengal on Wednesday as well.

At least 10 people, including a Class 6 student, were killed by lightning on April 30 when rain and storm hit large areas of south Bengal. And 15 died on April 18 after a storm with wind speeds of almost 100 kilometre per hour hit the state.