Kolkata, May 30 -- Seven persons died as a powerful spell of thunderstorm accompanied by heavy rains and gusty winds lashed Kolkata and several districts of southern West Bengal on Friday, disrupting normal life, affecting flight, metro and train services and uprooting trees.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced Rs 4 lakh compensation for the next of the kin of the deceased and asked the state urban and municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul to take steps in coordinating the help and render assistance to the corporation in Kolkata and Howrah as well and heads of civic bodies in clearing the uprooted trees and restore normalcy in traffic movements.
Dark clouds had gathered over Kolkata and adjoining areas since the morning amid opp...