Asia-Pacific

31 killed by storm in eastern India

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-14 15:19
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KOLKATA, India - At least 31 people were killed and 20,000 made homeless in a fierce storm which assaulted the North Dinajpur district in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal early Wednesday morning, said local officials and police.

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Ramanuj Chakrabarti, district minister of Dinajur, told media that 100,000 houses were damaged or destroyed as storm Norwester swept through the district, while electricity was cut and water supply was also affected in many villages.

He said local authorities were organizing rescue and aid operations for the people affected. Norwester also hit West Bengal at the same time last year, killing at least 100 people and flooding large areas of the region.

Local TV footage showed picture of villages devastated, with trees torn up and houses in debris.
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