31 killed as cyclone destroys mud huts in eastern India

At least 31 people have died after a cyclone demolished thousands of mud huts and uprooted trees in a cluster of villages in eastern India, an official said today.

Civil defence minister Srikumar Mukherjee said the cyclone struck last night in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal state, snapping telephone links and electricity supply to the area.

Mr Mulkherjee said hundreds of other people were injured in the region, nearly 500km north-east of Calcutta, the capital of West Bengal state.

He said the worst-hit villages were Hematabad, Raiganj and Kiran Dighi, where police have recovered 31 bodies.

He added the cyclone had demolished nearly 50,000 mud huts, and that rescue and relief teams had reached the area.