Alipurduar, 17 May (H.S.): A powerful storm caused extensive damage in Banshidharpur village under Falakata-II gram panchayat in West Bengal’s Alipurduar district, uprooting trees, damaging houses and disrupting electricity supply, local sources said on Sunday.

The worst-affected area was Adhikari Para in Banshidharpur village, where several trees were uprooted during the storm that struck late Saturday night.

According to residents, a tree fell on the house of Basu Munda, completely destroying the family’s bedroom and kitchen.

On Sunday morning, his wife Manju Asur Oraon was seen cooking in the open after the family lost shelter due to the damage.

Residents alleged that no government assistance had reached the affected family till Sunday.

In the same village, nearly 25 trees in the Gamari plantation owned by Nirmalkumar Biswas were uprooted in the storm, with some of them crashing onto his tin-roofed house.

Several other houses in the locality also suffered damage, locals said.

Local panchayat member Subal Barman visited the affected areas on Sunday and said an assessment of the damage was being carried out.

He said a report would soon be sent to the administration for necessary action and relief measures.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey