Amphan felled many trees in Chandernagore but the historic structures in the former French colony are safe, said residents. Among the trees that fell near Sacred Heart Church is a giant mahagony tree, that had been standing there for at least a century, said old-timers.
Sacred Heart Church, which dates back to 1875 and was declared a heritage structure in 2017, has not been damaged. Scores of trees dotting the Strand by the Hooghly have been uprooted. “At least 1,000 trees have been uprooted,” said Biswajit Mukherjee, 67, a resident and environmentalist. Chandernagore College, originally established as St Mary’s Institution by French Catholic missionary Rev. Magloire Barthet in 1862, the Registry Office and French Court are also safe, Mukherjee said
Sacred Heart Church
Picture by Pradip SanyalBakultala Ghat
Picture by Pradip SanyalStrand
Picture by Pradip SanyalGoswami Ghat
Picture by Pradip Sanyal