CYCLONE AMPHAN DEVASTATES COASTAL WESTBENGAL

Kolkata 24th May 2020: Cyclone Amphan tears into and . The storm with wind speed up to 185km per hour and heavy rain killed 80 people and left a trail of destruction in coastal parts of West Bengal and . The cyclone caused extensive damage in South and North , Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly. Thousands of families are homeless. Several trees and electric poles were uprooted. Houses flattened. Many villages submerged in low-lying coastal areas. The Amphan (the word originated in Thailand meaning sky)cyclone caused a massive damage to standing crops, plantations and infrastructure. Coronavirus restrictions and social distancing measures made mass evacuations more difficult. The National Disaster Response Force(NDRF) were deployed for evacuation, rescue and relief operations in the cyclone hit areas. Authorities are now racing to provide relief efforts to the victims. The quantum of devastation is yet to be determined but it is clear that there has been widespread destruction. Prime Minister and Chief Minister of West Bengal made an aerial survey of the cyclone hit area. The Prime Minister announced a relief package to help those affected by the storm.

Meaning of the following words tears trail of destruction coastal extensive damage homeless uprooted flattened. submerged low-lying areas massive damage standing crops, plantations infrastructure. restrictions mass evacuations rescue and relief operations provide quantum of devastation determined aerial survey widespread