Cyclone leaves over 100 deads in India and 50,000 homes destroyed

A cyclone with winds over 160 kph (100 mph) early this morning hit northeast India and neighboring Bangladesh, killing more than 100 people, injured 200 and destroyed more than 50,000 homes, officials said Wednesday.

Civil Defence Minister, Srikumar Mukherjee, said the cyclone hit on Tuesday night the states of West Bengal and Bihar, which also toppled trees and telephone lines and electricity.

Official sources in the states of West Bengal, Bihar and Assam said a total of 110 people died. Two other people died in Bangladesh.

“The storm left destruction everywhere,” said civilian defense minister of West Bengal, Srikumar Mujerjee.

“Most victims were crushed by the collapse of their homes,” said earlier.  The number of casualties and destroyed homes could rise, officials said.

The most affected villages in West Bengal were Hematabad, Raiganj and Kiran Dighi, in which police and rescue workers have recovered 31 bodies, said Mukherjee.

Other 37 people were killed in Bihar in the districts of Araria, Purnea and Kishenganj, told reporters a high state official, Nitish Kumar.

A prison collapsed in Araria district and the authorities had to move at least 600 inmates to another prison, said Kumar.