Sun Mar 23 01:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Brief, Violent Storm Devastates West Medinipur Villages
**Dantan, West Medinipur, West Bengal:** A sudden and intense hailstorm on Friday evening wreaked havoc across several villages in Dantan blocks 1 and 2 of West Medinipur district. The short but powerful storm, lasting only a few minutes, caused widespread damage to hundreds of acres of Boro paddy crops, uprooted numerous trees, and damaged over 20 houses, with roofs being blown away. Power lines were also downed, causing power outages in several villages.
The storm, accompanied by heavy hail, particularly affected the Angua 5 area (Palashia and surrounding villages) and areas around Jenkakapur 2 (Bamanda, Karia, Kulid, Mulida, and other villages). The hail left a thick layer of ice on the paddy fields, rendering the harvest unviable.
Local farmer Hrishikesh Sau described the devastation, expressing concern about his ability to repay loans and support his family. He reported widespread damage across five to seven villages, including betel nut farms. Local Panchayat member Shibani Pradhan Bera confirmed the extensive damage, estimating that over 500 hectares of paddy crops have been affected. She stated that the administration has been informed of the situation.
The storm was part of a larger weather system bringing rain and the possibility of hail and strong winds across West Bengal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms in several districts, including Birbhum, East Burdwan, Murshidabad, Nadia, North and South 24 Parganas, and East Medinipur. The opening IPL match at Eden Gardens is also under threat due to the weather forecast.
First Piper 