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Cyclone devastates Kolkata, leaves scores dead
The eastern Indian city of Kolkata has been devastated by a powerful cyclone which has killed at least 84 people across India and Bangladesh.
Amphan made landfall on Wednesday, lashing coastal areas with ferocious wind and rain. The storm is weakening as it moves north into Bhutan.
Thousands of trees were uprooted in the gales, electricity and telephone lines brought down and houses flattened.
Many of Kolkata’s roads are flooded and its 14 million people without power.
The storm is the first super cyclone to form in the Bay of Bengal since 1999. Though its winds had weakened by the time it struck, it was still classified as a very severe cyclone.
Coronavirus restrictions have been hindering emergency and relief efforts. COVID-19 and social-distancing measures made mass evacuations more difficult, with shelters unable to be used to full capacity.
Amphan began hitting the Sundarbans, a mangrove area around the India-Bangladesh border home to four million people on Wednesday afternoon, before carving north and north-eastwards towards Kolkata, a historic city that was the capital of the British Raj and widely known as Calcutta.
Parts of West Bengal and Orissa (also known as Odisha) states in India, and areas in south-west Bangladesh, bore the brunt, with winds gusting up to 185km/h (115mph).
At least 72 people have died in India’s West Bengal state, and 12 deaths have been confirmed in Bangladesh.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said the devastation in Kolkata, the state capital, was “a bigger disaster than COVID-19”.
“Area after area has been ruined,” Ms Banerjee was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency. “I have experienced a war-like situation today.”
Three districts in West Bengal – South and North 24 Parganas and East Midnapore – were very badly hit.
In Bangladesh, there are reports of tens of thousands of homes damaged or destroyed and many villages submerged by storm surges in low-lying coastal areas like Khulna and Satkhira. The authorities evacuated nearly 2.5 million people ahead of the cyclone.
Initial assessments of the damage are being hampered by blocked roads and flooding in all these areas. -BBC
Minority Leader in parliament, Alexander Osahen Afenyo Markin has raised concerns about the direction of the country one year after the 2024 general election, warning that Ghana’s democracy may be under threat if current governance trends are not checked.
In a statement reflecting on the year since Ghanaians voted for change, he noted that while the New Patriotic Party hoped for victory, the people chose differently and the outcome was respected as the will of the electorate.
He stressed that winning power comes with responsibility and not the freedom to govern without caution.
The Minority Leader argued that the removal of key public officials reflected a worrying pattern.
These included the dismissal of workers from state institutions, the exit of the Chief Justice, and ongoing processes affecting the Electoral Commission leadership and the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
He described the development as retribution rather than renewal and questioned the government’s promises on jobs and the 24 hour economy.
Addressing President John Dramani Mahama directly, he urged him to use his rare second return to office to build a legacy of development rather than removals.
He explained that global history shows that leaders who return to power after defeat are few, stressing that such an opportunity should lead to transformation that benefits citizens.
He encouraged the President to invest in technology, artificial intelligence and modern economic growth models to position Ghana for global competition.
He warned that no country will wait for Ghana while others advance through digital innovation.
The statement further pointed to youth unemployment and frustration, noting that campaign foot soldiers who worked hard during elections have been left disappointed.
He warned that ignoring young people could lead to instability.
He urged the media to uphold its watchdog duty by speaking up against constitutional breaches rather than seeking comfort in silence.
He explained that the Minority wants the government to succeed because national progress benefits everyone, not only one political side.
The Minority Leader maintained that although democracy is not perfect, it remains the best system since it allows peaceful correction through elections.
He encouraged citizens to trust the ballot and not violence.
He encouraged President Mahama to resist party hawks and focus on national development, stating that the world is watching how Ghana uses this moment in history.
He called on leaders across the political divide to remember they are custodians of the Republic and must work to protect the nation’s democratic future.
He concluded by urging young people not to lose hope, stressing that change comes through democratic processes, and reminding all leaders that Ghana’s stability depends on responsible governance, unity and development oriented action.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central Kwame Asare Obeng, widely known as A Plus, is calling on young people to take hypertension seriously by checking their blood pressure regularly and taking prescribed medication to prevent sudden deaths and stroke.
In a message shared to the public, the MP noted that cases of young people dying from high blood pressure are rising, even though the condition is preventable.
He mentioned that many refuse to go for checkups, and those who later discover they have hypertension still stop or avoid taking their medication.
He expressed worry that some men refuse treatment because they believe blood pressure drugs affect their sexual performance, a belief he described as misleading.
A Plus stressed that staying alive and healthy should be the priority, adding that complications from uncontrolled hypertension could lead to stroke and long term disability.
He encouraged the youth, especially men, to get their blood pressure tested and take treatment seriously to protect their health and future.
A Plus urged the public to spread the message so more people will take action on their health.
By: Jacob Aggrey
