PM Modi reaches West Bengal, will survey areas ravaged by Cyclone Amphan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached West Bengal, the primary leg of his go to to survey the areas ravaged by Cyclone Amphan. PM Modi will conduct an aerial survey of the harm.

The Prime Minister deboarded the aircraft at Kolkata airport sporting a face masks. He was obtained by Governor Jagdeep Dhankar and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee; they had been additionally sporting face masks.

The Prime Minister is stepping out after virtually three months, officers stated. His final tour was to Prayagraj and Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh on February 29.

The Prime Minister had introduced a nationwide lockdown in March because of the coronavirus pandemic which has gripped India and the world. He had urged individuals to remain wherever they’re. The lockdown has since been prolonged thrice, and PM Modi has not stepped out.

But this is sort of a nationwide emergency, which is why the PM has determined to step out after 83 days, stated officers. He will go to Kolkata and 24 North Parganas in West Bengal, they stated.

“He will conduct aerial surveys and take part in review meetings, where aspects of relief and rehabilitation will be discussed,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) stated in a tweet on Thursday night time.

Cyclone Amphan has left 72 individuals useless and 1000’s homeless in West Bengal, battering a number of elements of the state and washing away bridges and swamping low-lying areas.

It additionally wreaked havoc in Odisha damaging energy and telecom infrastructure in a number of coastal districts.

After West Bengal, the Prime Minister will go to Odisha within the afternoon.

Meanwhile, the extraordinarily extreme cyclonic storm has weakened and moved to Bangladesh, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) stated.

News of PM Modi’s determination got here hours after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee pitched for central help and appealed to PM Modi to go to the cyclone-hit areas. The state authorities had moved out 5 lakh individuals to defend them from the cyclone that roared into the state on Wednesday, packing winds gusting to a prime pace of 185 kmph.