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Waiting for relief after freak storm ravaged thousands of households in North Dinajpur,panic gripped villages last night when thick black clouds covered Karandighi,Raiganj and Kaliaganj blocks,prompting homeless villagers living in temporary shelters to rush to local schools and other buildings to save their lives.
While there was heavy rainfall last night at Karandighi and Raiganj,Kaliaganj saw a massive hailstorm.
P K Dutta,additional district magistrate of North Dinajpur,said a body was recovered from Hemtabad block this morning,pushing up the death toll to 44. He said a list of 42 victims was ready to be recommended for compensation to the state government,which had promised Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of those who died.
Meanwhile,villagers agitated in front of Hemtabad block office this morning against shortage of relief material. Over a thousand of them also held a road blockade on the state highway at Karandighi,alleging political bias at panchayat level even in the distribution relief material.
A district official admitted the relief material did not reach remote areas for lack of co-ordination between the block office,gram panchayats and zila parishad.
Dutta said it would take two-three days to restore the power supply in rural areas of Karandhigi,Kaliaganj,Hemtabad and Raiganj blocks. But the power situation in the urban areas has improved,he said.
President Patil distressed at loss of lives
* President Pratibha Patil has expressed distress at the loss of lives and property in the devastating storm in Bengals North Dinajpur district. In a letter to Governor M K Narayanan,the President expressed confidence that the state government was providing due care and assistance to the affected families.
PTI
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