Responding to an SOS from West Bengal, the Modi government on Saturday deployed five columns of the Army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to help state and civic agencies get cyclone-ravaged Kolkata back on its feet even as anger and frustration boiled over in neighbourhoods still without electricity and water. The super cyclonic storm Amphan has claimed the lives of 86 people in the state.
The first signs of a joint central-state response came barely hours after the state home department tweeted that assistance would be required along with a gargantuan effort to restore essential infrastructure and services snapped by cyclone Amphan on Wednesday. Five columns of the Kumaon Regiment were deployed along with road-clearing equipment like payloaders and bulldozers on Southern Avenue and in Tollygunge, Ballygunge, Rajarhat, New Town and Behala, where hundreds of trees were uprooted and roads blocked as Amphan coursed through the city.
“Army support has been called for; NDRF and State Disaster Response Force teams deployed; Rly, Port & private sector, too, requested to supply teams and equipment,” the home department said, adding that it was “mobilising maximum strength in unified command mode on 24×7 basis for immediate restoration of essential infrastructure and services ASAP”.
The state’s appeal and the Centre’s quick response came amid continuing protests in several pockets of the city over the blackout and dry taps since Wednesday. Officials said trees felled by the severe cyclonic storm needed to be removed from the roads first for power and telecom connectivity to be restored.
CM Mamata Banerjee stepped in to soothe frayed tempers, appealing to residents of various localities to bear with state agencies for a few days. “Behead me if you want. But try to appreciate the difficulties. We are not sitting idle. A total of 225 teams are working in Kolkata. I understand your problem. I have spoken to CESC’s Sanjiv Goenka. It is a private organisation and not under us. It is suffering a manpower shortage because of the lockdown. They need skilled manpower, not just workers,” she said at Nabanna, the state secretariat.
All state agencies are facing a shortage of personnel, Mamata said, adding: “Offices have been working with reduced manpower because of the lockdown. We don’t have enough people to cut trees. I have told the KMC and Kolkata Police to engage locals.”
Amphan affected 60 million out of Bengal’s 100 million population, the CM said during a visit to Kakdwip in South 24-Parganas earlier in the day. She said the £100 million central “advance assistance” was “too little” given that the damage caused by Amphan was “much more than a national disaster.”
“Our normal monthly income is £600 million but there has been no income for the last three months. Nothing from the centre has reached us till date. The £100 million central advance assistance is too little compared to the damage,” Mamata said.
PM Modi announces £100 mn relief
Earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an advance interim assistance of £100 million for cyclone-hit West Bengal on Friday (May 22). In a video message after reviewing the situation with Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and Mamata Banerjee in Basirhat in North 24 Parganas district, the Prime Minister also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 200,000 to the families of each of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the injured. At least 86 people have been reported killed so far in the state due to the extremely severe cyclone.
Large-scale damage to infrastructure, public and private property was reported from North and South 24 Parganas, East and West Midnapore, Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly districts. "Under the leadership of CM Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal is doing its bit in a fighting crisis caused by cyclone Amphan," PM Modi said. "I announce an advance interim assistance of £100 million for the state. A detailed survey will be conducted of the damage to agriculture, power and other sectors, besides damage to houses. In this time of distress and despair, the entire country and the Centre are with the people of Bengal," he said.
Earlier today, ahead of PM Modi's aerial survey in Bengal, Mamata contended that the calamity is more than a natural disaster. She said it will take time to restore normalcy, with cyclone Amphan having ravaged at least 7-8 districts in Bengal, and adversely impacting 60 per cent of the state's population.
20 killed in Bangladesh
The cyclonic storm hitting the West Bengal moved to Bangladesh where it has has caused widespread damage and claimed at least 20 lives, reported Dhaka Tribune. The government estimated that the damage from the cyclone is worth Tk 1,100 crore. State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman reported that initial estimates by four ministries suggested that Cyclone Amphan had badly affected 26 districts, causing damage to the tune of Tk 1,100 crore.
"According to a primary estimation, based on inputs from the ministries of local government, agriculture, fisheries and livestock, and water resources, the losses add up to Tk 1,100 crore," Rahman was quoted as saying. He further stated that a full estimate would be available only after a week.
