Bengal thunderstorm kills 7; CM Adhikari announces ₹4 lakh ex-gratia
Synopsis
Seven people died in sudden norwesters that tore through South Bengal on 29 May, killed by lightning, electrocution, and house collapses. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari moved quickly to announce ₹4 lakh ex-gratia per family — but with the norwester season far from over and forecasters flagging more squalls ahead, Friday's toll may not be the last word.
Key Takeaways
Seven people were killed in thunderstorms across South Bengal on 29 May , due to lightning, electrocution, and house collapses.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced ₹4 lakh ex-gratia for the next of kin of each deceased victim.
Financial assistance will also be provided to the injured and those whose homes were damaged .
Districts affected include Kolkata , Howrah , North and South 24 Parganas , Hooghly , Purulia , West and East Midnapore .
A monitoring team led by Minister Agnimitra Paul has been activated; the state disaster management department is on high alert .
Kolkata Municipal Corporation deployed emergency crews to clear uprooted trees and restore road access.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday, 29 May announced an ex-gratia of ₹4 lakh for the next of kin of each of the seven people killed in sudden thunderstorms that swept across South Bengal districts during the afternoon. The deceased lost their lives to lightning strikes, electrocution, and house collapses triggered by the norwesters.
Districts Hit and Casualties
The storms primarily battered South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, West Midnapore, East Midnapore, Purulia, and the state capital Kolkata. Deaths were reported across Kolkata, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, and Purulia. The bodies of the deceased were sent for post-mortem examination, according to official statements.
What the Government Said
Speaking to reporters on Friday evening, Chief Minister Adhikari confirmed that financial assistance would also be extended to those injured in the calamity and to households whose property was damaged. 'Right now, we are giving priority to the treatment of those injured. The state government will also provide financial assistance to those whose houses have been damaged because of the natural calamity. I understand that no death can be compensated by any amount. But it is the duty of the state government to stand by the family members of those killed in the natural calamity,' Adhikari said.
Relief and Monitoring Mechanism
The Chief Minister said a team led by Minister Agnimitra Paul has been tasked with monitoring the situation through the norwester season. Officials and staff of the state disaster management department have been placed on high alert. This is a standard activation protocol the state follows during the pre-monsoon squall season, which typically intensifies through May and June.
Impact on Kolkata
In Kolkata, the norwesters uprooted several trees and temporarily disrupted internet services in parts of the city. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation deployed emergency teams to clear fallen trees and restore road access. Notably, pre-monsoon norwesters — locally known as Kalbaishakhi — are a recurring hazard in Bengal, and Friday's event follows a pattern of increasingly severe squalls in recent years.
What Comes Next
Compensation disbursements for the bereaved families and the injured are expected to be processed through the state's disaster relief framework. Authorities are also assessing the extent of structural damage to homes in the affected districts. With the monsoon still weeks away, forecasters warn that further norwester activity remains likely across South Bengal.
Point of View
But the harder question is preparedness. Pre-monsoon norwesters are not surprises — they are a documented annual hazard in Bengal, and the death toll from lightning and electrocution points to persistent gaps in early-warning dissemination at the last mile. Compensation after the fact is necessary but not sufficient; the state's record on community-level storm alerts in rural South Bengal districts remains uneven. As climate patterns push norwester intensity higher, a reactive relief model will keep producing the same headlines.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people died in the West Bengal thunderstorms on 29 May?
Seven people died in sudden thunderstorms that struck South Bengal on 29 May, killed by lightning strikes, electrocution, and house collapses across districts including Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, and Purulia.
What compensation did CM Suvendu Adhikari announce for storm victims?
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹4 lakh for the family of each of the seven people killed. The state government also committed financial assistance for those injured and for households whose homes were damaged.
Which districts were worst affected by the Bengal norwesters?
The storms primarily hit South Bengal districts — South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, West Midnapore, East Midnapore, Purulia, and Kolkata. Several areas saw uprooted trees and temporary disruption to internet services.
What is a norwester and why does it affect Bengal?
A norwester, locally called Kalbaishakhi, is a violent pre-monsoon thunderstorm common in West Bengal and neighbouring states between March and June. These squalls bring sudden lightning, strong winds, and heavy rain, and are a recurring seasonal hazard across South Bengal.
What steps has the West Bengal government taken after the storm?
The state government placed the disaster management department on high alert and tasked a team led by Minister Agnimitra Paul with monitoring the situation. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation deployed emergency crews to clear uprooted trees, while compensation processing for victims is underway.
