Cyclone Amphan: Army deployed in Bengal as state govt seeks support to restore normalcy
Kolkata/IBNS: The Indian Army on Saturday provided three columns to assist the Kolkata administration while two more columns were sent to North and South 24 Paraganas district to help the authorities in restoring normalcy in the wake of massive destruction inflicted by Cyclone Amphan, said reports.
The army columns were sent after the Bengal home department today tweeted saying it has sought Indian Army's assistance to deal with the aftermath of the super cyclone which ravaged large parts of West Bengal, including the capital city, Kolkata, last Wednesday.
The state home department said it has sought help from the Indian Railways and private expertise to clear the roads strewn with broken trees, collapsed structures and buildings as winds at 185 km per hour pounded coastal Bengal.
GOWB mobilizes maximum strength in unified command mode on 24×7basis for immediate restoration of essential infrastructure and services asap. Army support has been called for;NDRF and SDRF teams deployed; Rlys,Port & private sector too requested to supply teams and equipment(1/3)
— HOME DEPARTMENT - GOVT. OF WEST BENGAL (@HomeBengal) May 23, 2020
GOWB mobilizes maximum strength in unified command mode on 24×7basis for immediate restoration of essential infrastructure and services asap. Army support has been called for;NDRF and SDRF teams deployed; Rlys,Port & private sector too requested to supply teams and equipment(1/3)
— HOME DEPARTMENT - GOVT. OF WEST BENGAL (@HomeBengal) May 23, 2020
The announcement came after protests broke out in several parts of the state over paralysed electricity and water supply as people faced grave difficulties with basic amenities absent for the past two days.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has appealed for patience owing to large manpower needed to clear the roads, make repairs and restore water and electricity supply.
The Chief Minister said thecyclone caused destruction of estimated Rs1 lakh crore.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after making an aerial survey along with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor Jagdeep Dhankar, announced assitance to the tune of Rs1,000 crore for West Bengal and Rs500 crore for Odisha.
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