Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to plant 5,000 trees after Amphan Cyclone

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the two-time champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL), have committed to planting 5,000 trees after the Amphan Cyclone wreaked havoc. They also pledged to donate to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. On Wednesday, May 20, the cyclone unfolded utter mayhem in the City of Joy, causing a lot of damage.

Over 85 people lost their lives and a number of services got disrupted. From roofs being blown away to trees being uprooted, it was absolute carnage in Kolkata last week. As if the coronavirus pandemic wasn’t enough, now the Amphan has piled on more agony. Apart from planting trees, KKR will also be helping out the needy and underprivileged.

KKR takes a heartfelt step

“KKR has committed to contribute to the cause. Under KKR’s Plant A 6 initiative, we pledge to work with the authorities and plant 5,000 trees in the Kolkata,” a statement from KKR said, reported by Firstpost. “Ration and essential hygiene items to be distributed to the needy across four most-affected regions — Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas and East Medinipur,” the statement further read.

“We must stay strong through these testing times until we can smile together again,” Shah Rukh Khan, the KKR owner, earlier said. In the aftermath of Amphan, Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bengal and met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. On Friday, May 22, the PM announced Rs 1,500 crore interim assistance to Bengal and Odisha.

The cyclone made landfall near West Bengal’s Digha and ripped through the coastal districts of the two states. As per data, 22 out of 86 people were electrocuted while 21 lost their lives in wall-collapse. During a meeting with Modi, Mamata said that the state had suffered losses of over Rs 1 lakh crore.

“Once again, a cyclone has hit the coastal region of India, especially the eastern region. It has caused great loss to our brothers and sisters of West Bengal and has caused extensive damage to the property here,” Modi said in a press conference. “I was constantly in touch with everyone concerned regarding the cyclonic situation. The Government of India was also in constant touch with the State Government,” he added.