According to IMD Delhi, tornadoes are possible in three other districts of West Bengal: Burdwan, Birbhum, and Hooghly.
On Monday Morning, Governor Dr C V Ananda Bose left for Jalpaiguri and reached Bagdogra around 8.30 am. He expressed grief over the deaths in Jalpaiguri and said, “There has been loss of lives in the storm in Jalpaiguri. Many are injured. I am worried I have spoken with the concerned department. Everyone is working together to deal with the situation. I will go there and take stock of the situation. I will do whatever is possible.”
When he reached Bagdogra, the Governor said, “I will personally monitor the situation. I will talk to people. I will listen to their grievances. I will do whatever is possible. I will also talk to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other concerned departments to ensure those affected get maximum help.”
A large area of Jalpaiguri town, Mainaguri and Dhupaguri block was destroyed by the sudden tornado on Sunday. Among the five people who died, two were residents of Jalpaiguri town. One lived in Gosala More and the other in Sen Para. Two others are said to be residents of Mainaguri. Mamata Banerjee went to everyone’s house at night.
Earlier, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee assessed the damage caused by the storm in Jalpaiguri. She met with the families of the deceased, visited the injured in the hospital, and surveyed the affected areas of Jalpaiguri and Mainaguri. She returned to her hotel in Malbazar at 2.30 am.
On Sunday night at the Bagdogra airport, Mamata Banerjee said, “The state government is with us. Now that the Model Code of Conduct (for Lok Sabha polls) is underway, the administration will do whatever it takes. A baby is being brought to the Neotia hospital. I am here today. The rest Abhishek Banerjee will take care.” Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was most likely to reach Jalpaiguri Monday afternoon.
Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP also reached Jalpaiguri on Monday morning. He said, “Our volunteers have been working there since last night. MP Jayanta Roy, MLA Kaushik Roy, MLA and Alipurduar candidate Manoj Tigga are working for the affected people, keeping the Model Code of Conduct in mind. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is proactively handling the situation there. The NDRF has formed a camp there.”
“About 800 houses have been destroyed in Jalpaiguri. The houses were made of tin. At this time, the government should stand by the people because the government does not fall under the standard mode code of conduct in case of disaster. Various voluntary organisations are also working in Jalpaiguri. We have some restrictions due to the MCC. The state government have to take more responsibility. Political activists or public representatives cannot do much because of the election rules. I can only be by their side.”
On Monday morning, the weather was unfavourable in Jalpaiguri. Stormy winds are blowing over large areas of northern Bengal.
CM Mamata Banerjee addressed the media outside Jalpaiguri Hospital yesterday and said, “The administration shall stand by the needy people. We are aware of the damage that has happened. The biggest damage is the loss of lives. The rescue operations are already over.”