The dust storm, accompanied by heavy rains, lashed Chara Panchla Badamtala village. The dust storm, accompanied by heavy rains, lashed Chara Panchla Badamtala village.

A dust storm has caused havoc in a village in Howrah district, destroying houses rendering around 200 people homeless, uprooting trees and electricity poles, district officials said today.

The dust storm, accompanied by heavy rains, lashed Chara Panchla Badamtala village under Panchla police station last evening.

It damaged around 80 houses, destroyed 20 others and injured nine persons of whom the condition of two was stated to be serious, the officials said.

The two were admitted to hospital.

Tin roofs of houses were flown to 1 km away, an official of the local panchayat said adding tarpaulin sheets and dry foods had been sent to the village last night while cooked food is being arranged for today.

The homeless people have taken shelter in an under-construction hostel and local factories, the panchayat official said.

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