Kolkata, April 18: Train services have been affected in Kolkata after strong winds of up to 98 km per hour hit the West Bengal capital and its adjoining areas on Wednesday. The weather conditions have crippled normal life in the state leading to disruption in public transport and traffic. Departure and arrival of some flights, too, were delayed because of gusty winds in Kolkata, airport officials said. Police informed that uprooted trees blocked at least 26 places thus causing inconvenience to commuters.

The Met department had earlier warned of severe thunderstorms with wind speed reaching up to 65 to 70 kilometres per hour in large parts of West Bengal. Due to the strong winds, at least eight people have lost their lives and many others have been injured 17. However, unconfirmed sources, however, put the death toll at 13.

As per details by the Police, five deaths were reported here while two died in Bankura district and one in Howrah district. Eastern and South Eastern Railway sources said suburban train services in Sealdah and Howrah divisions were affected as overhead wires snapped during the storm.

Soon after, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation pressed into service a disaster management team to clear the debris. According to a PTI report, the fire department official informed that electrical fires were reported from various parts of the metropolis. The New Market police station, located in the heart of the city, plunged into darkness following a short circuit during the storm, he said. People returning home after work faced traffic jams and snarls, as metro and train services were hit.

Regional Met Director G K Das had earlier said that thundersquall accompanied with wind speed between 55 to 65 km per hour is very likely to prevail over the districts of Bankura, Birbhum, East and West Bardhman, Murshidabad, Nadia, Jhargram, Purulia, East and West Midnapore, Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata and North and South 24 Parganas of south West Bengal in the coming days.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 18, 2018 11:52 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).