Radar too far, response too slow

Bengal found itself handicapped when a thunderstorm

The

A Freak storm preceded by hurricane-force winds killed nearly a hundred people in four blocks of North Dinajpur district in West Bengal and Araria, Purnea and Kishanganj districts of Bihar around midnight on Tuesday. While 31 people were killed and more than 50 injured in West Bengal, the toll was around 65 in Bihar.

Rains continued for the third day in the City, bringing down 36 trees and disrupting power supply in several parts of Bangalore. Gusty winds brought down trees, snapping powerlines and sending both BBMP and Bescom scrambling to clear the roads and restore power supply.

At least four people were killed and more than 20 injured in a thunderstorm that lashed several parts of Assam Wednesday, devastating homes and agriculture and uprooting trees, electric and telephone poles, officials said.

NALBARI, April 6

IMPHAL, April 5

Agartala/Aizawl, April 1: At least seven people were killed and nearly 16,000 houses destroyed as pre-monsoon rains accompanied by strong winds and hailstorms continued to create havoc in Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and southern Assam, officials said here today.

3000 houses roofless, 2 hurt, bushes bear brunt

Alipurduar, April 1: A hailstorm that lasted for 20 minutes last night wreaked havoc in the brew belt in Kalchini block, damaging at least 3,000 houses and rendering families homeless.

Two persons, one of them five-year-old Sanjeev Rai from Dalsinghpara, were hit by hailstones. Sanjeev got two stitches on the forehead.