5 Iconic Places of Kolkata Shattered by Amphan Super Cyclone

On 20th May, the super cyclone Amphan devastated most of the rural areas in West Bengal, Kolkata at a wind speed of approximately 155-165 kmph as reported by IMD. Kolkata, located in the southern part of the state, had never witnessed such a devastating cyclone since 1737 AD. The wind speed of 130 km per hour battered the city with over 5,000 trees uprooted, electric poles destroyed and mobile network jammed for almost three days.

Though the number of casualties is less in the metropolitan, some of its heritages are severely damaged. These are the 5 iconic places of Kolkata, which looked completely different after the hit of Amphan Super Cyclone, on 21st May morning.

5 Iconic Places of Kolkata that took a hit after the Amphan Super Cyclone:

1. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport:

When videos were viral the next day showing the tarmac and runways flooded, many viewers at first glance failed to recognize the place as they mistook it for Ganga River. Apart from leaving the Airport flooded, the super cyclone Amphan has damaged many structures and hangars in the Kolkata Airport that are under repair now.

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2. The Howrah Bridge:

It is the gateway to Kolkata, connecting the city to the Howrah Station and district. It features a special construction of riveting with no nuts and bolts used. Though the iconic bridge is safe, the police barricades were damaged as the image shows.

3. Amphan Super Cyclone Attack in College Street Book Market, Kolkata:

It is the famous ‘boi para’ of the city snatched away from its glory. It is the treasure trove of the city, which is nothing but a valley of dead scripts now. As shops were waterlogged and the books were destroyed due to heavy rain, the owners had no other choice than flushing the damp books out of their stores. Another great place ruined by the Amphan super cyclone in Kolkata.

4. Patuli Floating Market:

It is the first Indian floating market constructed in 2018 as a replica of the Bangkok Floating market. The super cyclone Amphan has completely ravaged its painted boats, planks and bridges.

5. Jadavpur University Integrity Statue:

Located near the JU central library, this statue has been one of the most iconic sculptures of Kolkata. The Integrity statue was installed in 2005 and since then, has always been more than a delight to the eyes. The students, as well as its admirers, felt a personal loss as the images of the destructed statue went viral on Facebook.

Amid lockdown, Amphan Super Cyclone in east India, a forest fire in the north, locust attack in the west, and the rising death toll of migrant workers show how the people of India are under a real threat. There are numerous cases that news headlines in India are falling short of highlighting. In such a scenario, keeping our eyes on the role of disaster management is crucial.

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