Kolkata, May 29 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday announced compensation of Rs 4,00,000 for each of the families of seven people in the sudden thunderstorms in the state.

These seven persons died due to lightning, electrocution and house collapse during thunderstorms in mainly Kolkata, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Hooghly and Purulia.

The bodies of the deceased victims had been sent for post-mortem.

Speaking to the media persons on Friday evening, Chief Minister Adhikari also claimed that the compensation will be provided to those who were injured because of the natural calamity which took place earlier in the afternoon.

“Right now, we are giving priority to the treatment of those injured. The state government will also provide financial assistance to those whose houses have been damaged because of the natural calamity. I understand that now death can be compensated by any paid. But it is the duty of the state government to stand by the family members of those killed in the natural calamity,” the Chief Minister told media persons.

The Chief Minister also said that the team led by Minister Agnimitra Paul had been entrusted with the task of monitoring the situation in this season of norwester.

“The officials and staff of the state disaster management department had been kept on high alert,” he added.

The sudden norwesters on Friday afternoon mainly impacted the South Bengal districts like South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, West Midnapore, East Midnapore, Purulia and the state capital of Kolkata.

In Kolkata, several trees were uprooted and internet services were temporarily impacted in certain pockets in the city because of the sudden norwesters.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation authorities are operating on an emergency basis to removed the uprooted trees and clear the road.

–IANS

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