Nor'wester toll rises to eight in West Bengal

KOLKATA: The toll in the nor'wester which hit West Bengal districts and the metropolis rose to eight today with more deaths reported.

Three deaths were reported from South 24 Parganas, followed by two each in West Midnapore and Howrah and one in Burdwan districts in nor'westers in the last two days, official sources said.

Agriculture minister Moloy Ghatak said that the seasonal storm caused huge loss to boro, groundnut and til cultivation, with West Midnapore and Burdwan districts bearing the brunt.

Yesterday, three persons, including a child were killed in a nor'wester which hit the metropolis and its surrounding areas toppling 75 tree and hitting train services and road transport.