States » EastPosted at: Oct 27 2026 7:35PM


Cyclone Arnab batters south Bengal, trees uprooted and power lines snapped in Midnapore

Midnapore, Oct 27 (UNI) Sudden squalls uprooted trees, snapped power lines and blocked roads across West Midnapore on Tuesday as the impact of severe cyclonic storm Arnab began to be felt in South Bengal, with Dantan and Belda bearing the brunt of the damage.
Several trees crashed onto roads and houses, disrupting traffic and power supply in affected areas. In Belda, strong winds reportedly overturned a toto, while trees were uprooted inside the Belda Super Speciality Hospital premises. Residents described the sudden onset of the storm as frightening, with dark clouds gathering before intense gusts and heavy rain swept through the area.
Dantan, which lies around 50 kilometres from the Digha coast, emerged as one of the worst-affected areas in the district. Large trees fell across roads, obstructing movement, while broken electricity wires added to the disruption. Thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rain were reported from several parts of West Midnapore.
“The wind was extremely strong. Around eight to 10 trees fell, blocking the roads. Electricity wires and other lines were also snapped,” said Bimal Mahato, a local resident of Dantan, describing the sudden spell of squally weather.
Another resident, Somnath Jana, said the storm struck Belda at around 1.30 pm and lasted for 10 to 15 minutes. “Four to five trees were damaged. We were terrified,” he said, referring to the damage near the Belda Super Speciality Hospital.
The sudden deterioration in weather came as the Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata warned of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and gusty winds across several districts of south Bengal under the influence of the cyclone, which is expected to make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday.
The weather office forecast thunderstorms accompanied by rain and winds of 30 to 40 kmph in South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore and Jhargram on Tuesday. Heavy rainfall and stronger gusts of 40 to 50 kmph were expected in these districts on Wednesday.
Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly were likely to receive light to moderate rainfall, with scattered showers and gusty winds possible elsewhere in south Bengal.
The department also warned of deteriorating sea conditions along the West Bengal coast, advising fishermen against venturing into the sea. Fishing activities have been restricted until Thursday, while fishermen already at sea were advised to return to shore by Monday, according to the warning.
Authorities have also raised concerns over possible tidal surges in rivers and coastal waters amid heavy rain, strong winds and high tides, particularly in vulnerable coastal settlements.
With the cyclone's influence expected to persist over the next few days, residents in coastal and storm-prone areas have been urged to remain alert and follow official advisories.
UNI BG NST CDS
Tags: #Cyclone Arnab batters south Bengal# trees uprooted and power lines snapped in Midnapore
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