A powerful cyclonic storm battered Bihar’s Seemanchal area Tuesday night, killing 42 and injuring more than 80 persons, rendering thousands homeless and cutting off the communication network entirely. The meteorological department said the storm, with winds of up to 65 kmph, entered from Nepal and created havoc in Purnea and other Seemanchal area districts. A victim who lost a relative and his house to this devastating storm, said he “had not expected that in a single stroke all my life will change for the worse”. According to data available with this newspaper, apart from Purnea where 32 persons died due to the storm, seven persons were killed in Madhepura and one each in Madhubani, Darbhanga and Supaul. Administrative officials in Purnea said most of the devastation occurred in urban areas of the district . There are reports that 19 persons were killed in Dagarua block, about eight km from Purnea town. The state government Wednesday morning announced `4 lakh as compensation to the kin of those killed. Madhepura MP Pappu Yadav too announced compensation of `50,000 for family members of victims. Officials in the affected districts have been asked to remain vigilant and extend all possible help to victims and their family members. The principal secretary in the disaster management department, Vyasji, said on Wednesday, “It is still too early to say anything as we are still taking stock of the situation and will estimate the losses only once we are through with it. But we have already asked officials to remain vigilant and help victims and their families.” Several teams of the National Disaster Response Force have deployed in the affected zone. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar cancelled all appointments on Wednesday and undertook an aerial survey of the affected Seemanchal area. Sources said the CM also spoke to the chief secretary and the disaster management department seeking a report on the incident. After his aerial survey, the CM spoke to Union home minister Rajnath Singh. “I will ensure that the victims get proper assistance and compensation. I have asked the officials to see they get proper attention. I am also concerned about the affected farmers,” Mr Nitish Kumar said in Patna. One of the victims, talking to this newspaper, said, “I have not seen such devastation in many years. Crops have been destroyed and houses in my area and neighbouring districts have been destroyed. We are stranded as transport systems have been badly hit.” Another victim complained they were yet to receive any help from the state government. The sources said the state administration had failed to alert people about the storm.