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Cyclone Devastation in South Bengal pic: Amit Kar

Sunday's cyclone has wrought havoc damaging or destroying thousands of houses in five south Bengal districts. Standing crops in these districts were also affected. The districts are Hooghly, Midnapore, North and South 24 Parganas and Nadia .There was, however , one death due to electrocution in Shyamnagar, North 24 Parganas.   Preliminary reports said that eight thousand houses were razed to the ground and another 19 thousand were damaged. In Hooghly district 80%of kharif aman paddy has been submerged following heavy rain. Kharif aman crop loss was between 30 %and 35 % in South 24 Parganas and Midnapore districts between 15%and 20 %in North 24 Parganas and Nadia districts. Production of mustard which averages 6 lakh tons in the State annually will be seriously affected as standing crop of mustard in all these five districts has been destroyed.   The Left Front Government in the State has announced that funds will be provided from the State’s budget for repair of houses. Mink it will be distributed among the farmers for cultivation of boro paddy, wheat and vegetables. The State Government wants the farmers to go in for cultivation of boro paddy in larger areas in view of the anticipated shortfall in kharif aman production this year.