5-min nor’wester and ‘mini tornado’ leave 4 dead, hundreds injured
Times of India | 1 April 2024
Jalpaiguri: At least four people were killed — crushed under falling trees — at two different places when a nor’wester, accompanied by a ‘mini tornado’, lashed Jalpaiguri for five minutes on Sunday afternoon. Around 367 people had to be hospitalised for injuries, even as initial estimates said there were “massive” loss to property at Jalpaiguri Sadar and Maynaguri blocks.
The Alipore Met office said the Mainaguri storm may have have been a “mini tornado” that accompanied a nor’wester in the region. “It generated an estimated wind speed of around 60kmph to 70kmph, though the speed inside the system must have been much more,” said Regional Meteorological Centre director GK Das. “Nor’westers are often accompanied by such mini tornadoes, which cause extensive destruction and loss of life. That seems to have happened in Jalpaiguri on Sunday.”
The dead have been identified as Dwijendra Narayan Sarkar (52), Anima Roy (49), Jogen Roy (70) and Samar Roy (64).
Late on Sunday, CM Mamata Banerjee left for Jalpaiguri to tour affected areas.