A tree uprooted by the storm in Cooch Behar’s Ghughumari. (Main Uddin Chisti)

May 9: The death toll in the storms that lashed north Bengal districts yesterday has risen to 13, with two more persons who had been struck by lightning in Malda succumbing to injuries. The wind had also flattened over 3,000 huts and destroyed crops in several places.

Sudam Majhi, 50, and Khubitir Mondol, 22, of Nazirpur village in Manikchak died at the district hospital today.

The district magistrate of Malda, Chittaranjan Das, said a compensation of Rs 50,000 would be paid to the next of kin of each victim, if they produced the post-mortem reports. However, relatives of some of the victims had buried the bodies without the mandatory autopsy, police said.

In South Dinjapur, the hailstorm destroyed ready-to-harvest paddy on 7,500 hectares. The principal agricultural officer of the district, Lakshmikanta Mandi, said the crop loss would be Rs 20 crore.

Farmers’ wings of both the CPM and the RSP, however, put the estimate at Rs 50 crore and demanded compensation. Mandi said the figure could rise after he received a full report of the damage.

According to the Malda district magistrate, mango worth Rs 60 lakh had been destroyed in the storm, although the total crop damage had not yet been estimated.

“The fallen mango is being sold at one rupee a kilo. But despite the loss, we expect a good harvest of at least three lakh tonnes of the fruit this year,” the district magistrate said.

In Cooch Behar, about 3,000 huts in six blocks had been flattened by the storm that also damaged the crop. Sources in the district administration said a report about the loss has been sent to Writers’ Buildings in Calcutta. Rajesh Kumar Sinha, the district magistrate, said relief was being distributed.

More than 100 huts had been destroyed by the storm at Totopara on the Indo-Bhutan border in Jalpaiguri district’s Alipurduar subdivision. The strong wind also damaged betel plants, which is a source of income for residents there. “Even after 24 hours, we have not received any relief here,” said Maite Toto, a resident.