Bangladesh – The eastern Indian city of Kolkata has been devastated by a powerful cyclone that has killed at least 84 people across India and Bangladesh.
On Wednesday, storm Ampham struck land, lashing coastal areas with ferocious wind and rain. The cyclone is now weakening as it moves to the north.
Many of the roads in Kolkata are flooded and left its 14 million people without power.
However, coronavirus restrictions have been hindering emergency and relief efforts. The virus and social-distancing measures have made mass evacuations more difficult with shelters not being able to be used to full capacity.
In India’s West Bengal, at least 72 people have died, while 12 deaths have been confirmed in Bangladesh.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said the devastation in Kolkata, the state capital, was “a bigger disaster than Covid-19”.
“Area after area has been ruined,” Ms Banerjee was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency. “I have experienced a war-like situation today.”
Leave a Reply