Week After Cyclone Amphan, Kolkata is Crawling Back to Normalcy

On 21 May, the cyclone left trail of destruction – fallen electric poles, uprooted trees, waterlogged streets etc.

I along with my friend Koushik decided to travel across the city to capture the impact of the cyclone.

(Photo Courtesy: Koushik Das)

Video Editor: Prashant Chauhan
Video Producer: Zijah Sherwani

It’s been more than a week since Cyclone Amphan made landfall in West Bengal. Considered as one of the most destructive cyclones faced by Kolkata in decades, it made the city unrecognisable. Large parts of the city had plunged into darkness through the night.

It’s been nearly more than a week since Cyclone Amphan made landfall in West Bengal.

On the morning of 21 May, the cyclone left a trail of destruction – fallen poles, uprooted trees, waterlogged streets etc.

On 21 May morning, the cyclone left trail of destruction – fallen electric poles, uprooted trees, waterlogged streets etc.

I along with my friend Koushik decided to travel across the city to capture the impact of the cyclone.

We reached of Kalakpara, Alambazar, where the residents confirmed that the locality along with many other places is facing water shortage and electricity problems.

Water shortage and electricity problems were noticeable everywhere.

We met Master Da, one of the residents, who said, “The electricity problem is solved in some areas as its residents protested against electricity failure and then the CESC solved their problem. But till now, the electricity problem isn’t solved in our area.”

However, the locals say that the authorities have visited the place and they are hopeful that things will recover quickly. The Baranagar Municipality is supplying water in these areas and many people are purchasing water for daily chores.

The locals say that the authorities have visited the place, and they are hopeful that things will recover quickly for good.

Sudeshna Dutta, a teacher and a resident of Bidhan Park, Dum Dum, says,

“Due to the cyclone, our area was heavily waterlogged. Dirty water was flowing through the kitchen and bathroom pipelines. For days we had to purchase water even for activities as simple as washing hands.”

Although all sections of the society have suffered due to the cyclone.

Although everyone has suffered due to the cyclone, it is the poor that have faced serious consequences. Deepali from Kalakpara, Alambazar, who sells tea and is the sole bread earner of her family, says she is penniless after the damage caused to her tea stall by the cyclone.

“I took a loan and made this shop. First, it was the lockdown and not the cyclone. I didn’t know what to do. The storm has ruined everything. How would I be able to repay the money I borrowed?”

Deepali, who runs a tea stall 

On being asked whether she got any financial support from the authorities, she replied, “The local counsellor visited us and reviewed everything. He said that it would take time.”

Kolkata’s iconic College Street covered with books post Amphan.

Due to no electricity, people are forced to charge their mobile phones in other localities/areas, at times at cyber cafes and railway stations.

The good news is that the government has begun the recovery work in various places in Kolkata.

Around 300 fire personnel from Odisha have been sent to assist in relief and rescue operations.

The army was deployed on Saturday for the restoration of the city. Around 300 fire personnel from Odisha have been sent to assist in relief and rescue operations.

(Please donate towards the families affected by the Cyclone Amphan here.)

(The authors are students. All 'My Report' branded stories are submitted by citizen journalists to The Quint. Though The Quint inquires into the claims/allegations from all parties before publishing, the report and the views expressed above are the citizen journalist's own. The Quint neither endorses, nor is responsible for the same.)