Storm toll 124; survivors protest

A day after a violent storm lashed parts of Bihar, West Bengal and Assam, the body count climbed to 128 today. There is mounting anger and helplessness among the hundreds of thousands rendered homeless as they say food, medicines and temporary shelters have been hard to come by.

More deaths have been reported on account of the storm on Tuesday night in West Bengal and Bihar, with the toll reaching 124.

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Five more deaths were reported on Thursday from Raiganj and Kaliaganj in West Bengal’s North Dinajpur district.

In Bihar, the toll reached 80 from the 74 reported on Wednesday. The number of lives lost in Bihar itself could go up to 100 as the debris the storm created is being cleared in the districts of Purnia, Kishanganj, Araria and Supaul.

In North Dinajpur, storm-victims blocked a national highway on Thursday in protest against the West Bengal government’s failure to provide relief to them even 36 hours after the havoc had been wreaked.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi visited the storm-affected areas in the state on Thursday and instructed officials to provide relief on a war footing.

In all, 52 families in Purnia and Araria got a cheque for Rs 1.5 lakh each.