Kolkata: Cyclone Aila spawned from a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal to hit West Bengal on Monday leaving twenty three persons dead and affected 1.10 lakh.
The highest number of fourteen deaths, according to official sources, was reported from South 24 Parganas district, followed by five in the metropolis, three in Howrah and one in Bankura district.
"The cyclone, now lying stationery 50 km west of Kolkata, hit the West Bengal coast at 1:30 pm near Sagar Island. It is moving in a northerly direction and will weaken gradually, Regional Meteorological Centre Director G C Debnath said.
"Rains, however, will continue throughout on Tuesday," he said.
A severe storm with a windspeed of 110 kmph accompanied by heavy rainfall preceded the cyclone ripping through Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Burdwan and East Midnapore districts at 110 kmph.
Unofficial reports, however, put the toll at 26 and the number of affected at over two lakh.
Rs 2 lakh ex gratia announced
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday night announced an ex gratia relief of Rs two lakh to the kin of each of those killed in the cyclone even as the Centre mobilised the disaster relief mechanism to meet the situation.
The Prime Minister announced ex gratia relief of Rs two lakh for each of those killed in the cyclone in West Bengal and other areas of east India, a PMO spokesman said.
Earlier, Home Minister P Chidambaram said the Centre had fully mobilised the disaster relief mechanism and sent around 1,000 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force to deal with the crisis.
Assistance of Army had also been sought to help the civil administration in tackling the challenge.
A severe storm with a wind speed of 110 kmph accompanied by heavy rainfall preceded the cyclone that had formed in the Bay of Bengal from a very deep depression Sunday night.