Ramaswami: Super Cyclone Amphan wreaked havoc in six districts of southern West Bengal on Wednesday night, leaving behind shattered homes, uprooted trees and a collapse of the communication network in the state. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that 72 people have lost their lives as a result of the storm, said to be the strongest cyclone in the state for decades. In a bulletin, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that as of 5 p.m. on Thursday, Amphan had moved north-northeastwards and would weaken into a deep depression over the next three hours. North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Nadia were the worst affected districts with the complete destruction of crops like paddy, groundnut and vegetables in the region. Howrah, Hooghli and Medinipur districts have suffered mild damage as well. Farmers have said that the saline water in farms will seriously compromise prospects of future cultivation.