Kolkata: Prices of beans, capsicum, onion stalks, chillies and green peas galloped past the Rs 200-mark on Sunday due to the impact of a recent cyclonic circulation, heavy rainfall, and a surge in high tides which created disruptions in the vegetable supply chain, driving up prices in markets across the city.
Tomato, pointed gourd and brinjal were also hovering around the Rs 100 per kg mark under its impact.

In some cases the price rise has been sharp. As on Oct 27, wholesale prices showed a substantial rise. Key items like brinjal jumped from Rs 60 to Rs 120 per kg, pointed gourd from Rs 50 to Rs 100 per kg, and chillies from Rs 120 to Rs 200 per kg. Prices of capsicum, flat beans and green peas from other states have also increased due to dip in local supply.
While some areas saw a quicker recovery due to fast-draining water and sunny weather, farmers in coastal districts like South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore faced significant crop loss.
These regions, which cultivate seasonal crops taking up to 90 days to yield, were especially affected as flooded fields caused rotting and decay of standing plants.
Other major agricultural hubs, including Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, Nadia and Burdwan, reported milder impacts and lesser crop damage.
Kamal De, president of the West Bengal Vendors’ Association, said although the immediate impact on vegetable prices was limited, supply issues in Howrah, Hooghly and East Midnapore could drive further price hikes if waterlogging persists.
Gopal Sonkar, a wholesale trader at Koley Market, said though produce from other states is still arriving, quantities are lower. “With local crops affected, vendors are trying to meet demand, but the risk of spoilage is high, so prices are likely to continue rising.” Authorities are working to assist farmers with drainage solutions and pest control measures.
Gouri Dasgupta, a teacher, said rising prices forced her to make adjustments to family meals.
The cyclone damaged vegetable farms across Bhangar, Baruipur, Deganga and Basirhat, creating a supply chain gap. With many seedbeds for winter crops damaged, prices of vegetables like tomato, cauliflower, cabbage, brinjal and chillies may continue to rise. Safikul Hasnat, assistant director of agriculture in Bhangar I, said fields where water has drained are less affected, while those that remain waterlogged face crop loss and increased disease risk.

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NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said that one person had died in the state due to Cyclone Dana, while the administration had evacuated around 2.16 lakh people from low-lying areas.
“Only one person died in this natural disaster. The man died at his residence while conducting some cable-related work. It is quite unfortunate. The postmortem examination will give us a clear picture. If required we (state government) will help the family,” Banerjee said addressing a press conference.
“Some districts are affected badly due to cyclone, especially kaccha houses. All DMs, SPs and concerned officials are doing their best. We coordinate with all of them from time to time. 2.16 lakh people evacuated from affected areas to relief camps. I talked to an MLA, he informed me that Kapil Muni Mandir has been affected and faced massive waterlogging. I talked to all MLAs of affected districts,” Mamata added.
After spending the night at the state secretariat to oversee the situation, Mamata held a review meeting and instructed officials to ensure that relief materials are provided to all those affected by the cyclone.
IMD has reported that Cyclone Dana made landfall on the north Odisha coast as a severe cyclonic storm, with wind speeds ranging from 100-110 kmph and gusts up to 120 kmph. The IMD has also issued a warning for isolated extremely heavy rainfall over south Gangetic West Bengal, specifically in the east and west Medinipur regions, today.
“The Severe cyclonic storm “Dana” (pronounced as Dana) crossed north Odisha coast close to Habalikhati Nature Camp (Bhitarkanika) and Dhamara during 0130 hrs IST to 0330 hrs IST of today, 25th October as a Severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph,” IMD said in a post on X.
“Isolated extremely heavy rainfall is very likely over coastal Odisha, south Gangetic West Bengal (east & west Medinipur) on 25th October 2024,” IMD added.
“Reports are being compiled from the field by the SOC and shortly we will have the details…The normal services have also been restored. The air services have been restored,” NDRF DIG Mohsen Shahedi told ANI.
Various parts of West Bengal are currently experiencing rainfall as a result of the cyclone.

At least 1.1 million people on India’s eastern coast are fleeing to storm shelters inland, hours before a powerful cyclone is expected to hammer the low-lying region, ministers said on Thursday.

Cyclone Dana is likely to hit the coasts of West Bengal and Odisha states — home to around 150m people — as a “severe cyclonic storm” late on Thursday, India’s weather bureau said.

It predicts winds will be gusting up to 120 kilometres an hour.

Major airports will shut overnight, including key travel hub Kolkata, where heavy rain was already lashing the sprawling megacity.

The eye of the storm is predicted to make landfall early on Friday, near the coal-exporting port of Dhamra, about 230km southwest of the megacity Kolkata.

It is also expected to impact neighbouring low-lying Bangladesh, where the leader of the interim government Muhammad Yunus said that “extensive preparations” are being made.

Crashing waves are expected to inundate swathes of coastal areas, with water predicted to surge up to two metres (6.5 feet) above usual tide levels.

Odisha state health minister Mukesh Mahaling told AFP that “nearly a million people from the coastal areas are being evacuated to cyclone centres”.

In neighbouring West Bengal state, government minister Bankim Chandra Hazra said: “More than 100,000 people have so far been shifted to safer places.”

‘Save lives’

Businesses in Puri, a popular beach resort, have been ordered to close, and tourists told to leave.

“All efforts are being made to face the cyclone and save lives,” said Puri district magistrate Siddharth Swain.

Kolkata airport director Pravat Ranjan Beuria said flights will be suspended overnight Thursday due to “predicted heavy winds and heavy to very heavy rainfall”.

The airport in the city of Bhubaneshwar will do the same, while scores of trains have been cancelled and ferries from Kolkata ordered to stay in port.

Bangladesh disaster minister Faruk-i-Azam told AFP that authorities were on “high alert” but evacuation orders had not been issued as it was predicted the worst of the storm would hit India.

“We are closely monitoring the cyclone’s progress,” he said.

Cyclones — the equivalent of hurricanes in the North Atlantic or typhoons in the northwestern Pacific — are a regular and deadly menace in the northern Indian Ocean.

Scientists have warned that storms are becoming more powerful as the world heats up due to climate change driven by burning fossil fuels.

Warmer ocean surfaces release more water vapour, which provides additional energy for storms, strengthening winds.

A warming atmosphere also allows them to hold more water, boosting heavy rainfall.

However, better forecasting and more effective evacuation planning have dramatically reduced death tolls.

In May, Cyclone Remal killed at least 48 people in India, and at least 17 people in Bangladesh, according to government figures.

Thousands of people living along India’s eastern coast fled to inland storm shelters on Wednesday ahead of the expected arrival of a powerful cyclone later this week.

Cyclone Dana is likely to hit the coasts of West Bengal and Odisha states —together home to around 150 million people — as a “severe cyclonic storm”, India’s weather bureau said.

It is forecast to make landfall near Puri, a popular tourist destination, late on Thursday night.

“Authorities have begun evacuating more than 100,000 people in coastal areas,” West Bengal state government minister Bankim Chandra Hazra told AFP.

“Authorities have ordered the shutdown of all educational institutions” in nine districts of the state until Sunday, he added.

The Indian Meteorological Department warned fishing crews to stay off the water, and authorities in Odisha state cancelled around 200 trains, according to local media reports.

A senior official at the international airport in Kolkata, India’s third-biggest city by population, said authorities there were weighing whether to stop all air traffic from Thursday.

Tourists in coastal areas of both states were told to leave beach resorts and move to safe shelters.

“There was a rush of tourists at the railway station in Puri to leave,” railway spokesman Kaushik Mitea told AFP.

Powerful Cyclone Remal killed at least 48 people in India in May, according to government figures.

While better forecasting and more effective evacuation plans have reduced death tolls, scientists have warned that storms are becoming more powerful as the world gets warmer with climate change.

On Tuesday, the West Bengal government ordered the closure of schools and colleges in nine districts from October 23 to 25, 2024, due to the impending threat from Cyclone “Dana,”. Schools and colleges will remain closed in the following districts: East Midnapore, West Midnapore, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Jhargram, Bankura, Hooghly, Howrah, and Kolkata.Additionally, all Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centers in these districts will also remain shut, as per IANS.
Earlier, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by October 23 and reach the coasts near Odisha and West Bengal by October 24. Cyclone Dana is anticipated to bring heavy rainfall to both states for at least three days.
The government decided to close educational institutions as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and non-teaching staff. Students, parents, and guardians are advised to stay in regular contact with school authorities for updates on closures, online classes, and other relevant details.
Similarly, in the wake of Cyclone Dana, the Odisha Government has announced a holiday for all the schools, colleges, and educational institutes in Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Angul, Khordha, Nayagarh and Cuttack districts. The schools will remain closed till October 25 as a precautionary measure. Since October 26-27 falls on the weekend, schools will resume on October 28.
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