New Delhi: At least seven people have died in West Bengal and Odisha on Sunday after severe cyclonic storm Bulbul wreaked havoc in the coastal districts of both the states and causing damage to thousands of houses, uprooting trees and affecting hundreds of phone towers. A total of 7,815 houses was damaged and 870 trees uprooted after the landfall of the cyclone in West Bengal, said the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, adding 950 phone towers were also affected causing power disruption in the state.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee took to Twitter and informed that she would take an aerial survey of the affected areas on Monday. "Due to the severe cyclonic storm ‘Bulbul’, I have decided to postpone my North Bengal visit in the coming week. Instead, tomorrow I would take an aerial survey of the affected areas around Namkhana and Bakkhali," CM wrote. "Later I would take a meeting at Kakdwip with administration to review relief and rehabilitation measures of the cyclone-affected people. I am also planning to visit the cyclone-affected areas of Basirhat of North 24-Parganas on 13 November, 2019," she added.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that the centre is closely monitoring the situation after cyclone Bulbul has hit Eastern India and assured the West Bengal government of full support. "Closely monitoring the situation as cyclone Bulbul hits Eastern India. We are continuously in touch with central & state relief agencies. Have spoken to CM @MamataOfficial and have assured all possible help. I pray to almighty for those who are braving out this adverse weather," Shah tweeted from his official handle. "10 teams of NDRF in West Bengal and 6 teams in Odisha have already been deployed and are assisting the state administration in the evacuation, restoration of roads and in the distribution of relief materials. Additional 18 teams of NDRF have been kept on standby," he added.

Citing a preliminary report received from West Bengal and Odisha, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs said on Sunday as the centre of the severe cyclone Bulbul moved to Bangladesh, high winds with speeds up to 80 kms in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas continue to rage there.

In the morning today, several NDRF officials with the chain saw machines were seen cutting the fallen trees and making efforts to clean up the blocked roads. Yesterday, after Bulbul hit Odisha, a couple of roads were also blocked in Kendrapada causing traffic snarls. The fallen trees were later cleared by NDRF officials.

The very severe cyclonic storm Bulbul has crossed West Bengal Coast close to Sunderban Dhanchi forest from 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm on Saturday. "Presently, this cyclonic storm Bulbul lies off the coast of Bangladesh and adjoining areas. It is now away from West Bengal and losing its intensity. We are expecting that the cyclonic storm will become a depression within the next 12 hours. A wind warning is there so fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea in the next 24 hours," GC Das, Alipore IMD Director told ANI.