on 3-May-09, "Lightning, thunderstorm claim six lives in Bengal "

Altogether six people were killed in lightning and thunderstorm-related cases in three separate incidents in Malda district as Nor'wester hit the state this afternoon.

Additional District Magistrate Bipul Biswas said two persons were killed when lightning struck them at Manik Chowk under Mohanpur block. The deceased were yet to be identified, he added.

In another incident, two persons died on the spot when a tree fell on them at Kaliyachowk in the district, Mr Biswas said adding two more persons were killed in the related incident when their hutment, in which they were staying, collapsed on them due to strong winds at Englishbazaar in the district.

At least 200 hutments have been damaged by the storm, while mangoes and lichies amounting to Rs 20 lakh were damaged, he further informed.

The state witnessed season's first Nor'wester today which also brought much sought after relief to the denizens as raingod finally smiled on Kolkatans and Southern parts of West Bengal.

Cool Nor'wester speeding almost 40 to 60 km per hour along with thunderstorm and rain have significantly brought down the temperature.

Local Met office recorded the maximum temperature at 36 degree Celcius and minimum at 28 degress Celcius.

The state was reeling under heatwave-like condition for the past one month.

The much-awaited Nor'wester also forced a number of flights to defer landing at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International airport here, air port officials said adding they were directed by the Air Traffic Control (ATC) to "hold" and circle over the city and wait for the storm to abate.

Moreover, the Met officials forecast cloudy sky with rain and thundershowers towards the evening tomorrow