Kolkata: A 15-minute tornado on October 9 razed to ground about 200 dwellings and left four persons injured in three villages in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, as the depression over Chattisgarh receded into a well-marked low pressure lying over Jharkhand.

Roofs of tin and thatched houses were blown away by the tornado which hit Harahari, Chhamugram and Manigram villages in Sagardighi police station area at about 10:00 hours (IST).

The four persons were injured while scurrying for shelter, police said.

Senior district officials rushed to the affected villages with tarpaulin sheets and relief material.

Meanwhile, the depression, which caused heavy rainfall in the Gangetic West Bengal in the last four days, was last reported to have receded into a well-marked low pressure lying stationary over the Jharkhand region.

The weatherman said it would gradually weaken. "It is difficult to specify when the situation will become normal."

Under its influence, heavy to very heavy rain have been forecast at few places all over West Bengal and Sikkim in the next 48 hours. Heavy rain at a few places with very heavy fall at isolated places were also likely over Bihar and Jharkhand in the next 24 hours.

The Met Office earlier issued a warning to all airlines on the formation of a strong circulation of air, caused by the intensified form of depression, up to seven km, where the windspeed was about 35 to 40 knots per hour.

Meanwhile, the city and its neighbourhood experienced intermittent rains, with waterlogging in some areas.

PTI