Fight operations resumed at the Kolkata Airport on Sunday morning after Cyclone Bulbul made a landfall in South 24 Parganas district on Saturday midnight.
The cyclone has claimed 10 lives in Bengal and Odisha, and left thousands homeless.
According to reports, 10 people were killed in West Bengal, two others died in nearby Odisha state, and eight people were killed and at least as many were injured in Bangladesh.
Hundreds of trees were uprooted by the winds gushing at a speed of more than 100kilometre/hour in the last 24 hours.
Rainfall more than 20 mm has been recorded. Kolkata witnessed a snarling traffic with the movement completely disrupted in the surrounding areas too.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the control room and spent several hours monitoring the situation along with Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha.
Around 200 people have been moved to a shelter in the Sagar Pilot station of the Kolkata Port trust.
Storm-struck villagers were served food in the corridors of Sagar Pilot station by the commander, pilots and staff.
A local resident, Sujata Sanyal, said, “Due to the cyclone all our houses have been damaged. All the food grains are damaged. All our farm animals have died. We are in much pain. We are worried about what we will do about food now.”
Vidya Sardar said, “All our houses have been destroyed. Houses have been destroyed completely. Where will we live now? We all have lost a lot.”
Cyclone Bulbul also smashed into the low-lying areas of Bangladesh on Sunday, bringing in its wake torrential rains coupled with howling gales.
Authorities said the cyclone was weakening, and turned into a deep depression, causing heavy rainfall.
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