Cyclone Amphan: Centre sends 5 Army columns to help Kolkata

The Central Government on Saturday sent five columns of Indian Army to help Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to restore infrastructure in Kolkata.

The Centre took this decision after receiving a request from the West Bengal government.

"Based on the request from the Government of West Bengal, five columns were deployed today in the state to assist the civil administration in the aftermath of Cyclone Amphan. They will be providing assistance in road clearance work tomorrow as well," the statement from Indian Army read.

The army officials were seen assisting the local administration in clearing out the roads. A JCB machine was also used by the team to restore infrastructure in state capital Kolkata.

Severe storm Cyclone Amphan in the Bay of Bengal had made landfall around 20 kilometers east of Sagar Island in the Sunderbans on Wednesday afternoons snapping telecommunications, power lines and cutting off roads links.

Due to the cyclone, more than 80 people have lost their lives across West Bengal.

( With inputs from ANI )