NEW DELHI : The very severe cyclonic storm Amphan hit the West Bengal coast with devastating force around 2:30 pm on Wednesday, wreaking havoc.
The cyclone pounded the coast with winds of 155-165 kmph gusting up to 190kmph, accompanied by extremely heavy rain, uprooting trees, ripping away roofs, damaging cropland, tossing away boats, and inundating 15km inland, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The landfall process lasted for 4-5 hours and by 7 pm the storm was over the land. By the time the cyclone hit Kolkata, Hooghly and Howrah, the wind speed fell to 110-120 kmph gusting up to 135kmph.
Massive storm surges rising up to 4 metres above the astronomical tides overwhelmed coastal areas, as water rushed through rivulets,