Shubhadeep Choudhury

Tribune News Service

Kolkata, May 23

The Army, on Saturday, hit the streets of Kolkata and neighbouring Diamond Harbour to assist the state government in the removal of trees uprooted by the cyclone that crashed on the state on Wednesday.

Besides blocking important roads, the fallen trees have brought down overhead electric cables in many areas, causing major disruption in the city’s power supply network.

In a number of areas in South Kolkata, power supply is yet to be resumed even after 72 hours since cyclone “Amphan” hit the city.

Residents in the affected areas have been holding demonstrations and blocking roads in protests.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged people to be patient and said the administration was working tirelessly to restore normalcy.

According to the MoD spokesman, Wing Commander Mandeep Singh Hooda, five Army columns, equipped with road and tree clearance equipment, have been deployed in Tollygunge, Ballygunge, Rajarhat and Behala in Kolkata and in Dimamond Harbour.

The West Bengal government sought support of the Army for restoring essential infrastructure and services in the cyclone-ravaged areas of the state. It also sought help from the Railways and the Port Authority.

In a series of tweets, Home Department of West Bengal said the state government had mobilised maximum strength in a unified command mode for immediate restoration of essential infrastructure and services.

“Army support has been called for; NDRF and SDRF teams deployed; Rlys, Port & private sector, too, requested to supply teams and equipment,” the Home Department tweeted.

According to the Home Department, drinking water and drainage infrastructure is getting restored fast and public health engineering department has been asked to supply water pouches in areas where there is a crisis.

“Generators are being hired where necessary. More than 100 teams from multiple departments and bodies working for cutting of fallen trees, which is the key to restoration of power in localities,” the Home Department said.

The state government also urged private entities to provide manpower and equipment.

The cyclone has claimed 86 lives in the state and caused havoc in South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, North 24 Parganas and East Midnapore.