Sitrang spares Bengal, mostly, but not NE and Bangladesh
After all the warnings of dire consequences, Cyclone Sitrang spared Bengal. It skirted the state’s coast to enter Bangladesh, making landfall between Tinkona Island and Sandwip near Barisal in the neighbouring country.
However, it caused moderate to heavy rain, dampening festive spirits on Diwali and Kali Puja in the coastal districts of South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur.
According to the Bangladesh government, Sitrang left at least 35 people dead and about 8 million without power, damaged about 10,000 homes and destroyed more than 6,000 hectares of crops.
It also left a trail of destruction in the north-eastern states. Several districts of Assam and especially the districts of Mamit and Siaha in Mizoram experienced heavy rain and squally weather. In Assam, over 1000 people were affected and more than 3 lakh hectares of crops damaged, while in Mizoram, the cyclone triggered landslides and uprooted trees along several highways.
