LONDON: A freak tornado that wrought a trail of destruction across Britain’s second city Birmingham has left its famous balti industry reeling, restauranteurs said on Monday. Balti cuisine — in which curry dishes are cooked in small two-handled pans known as karahis — was invented in Birmingham, in the English Midlands, by immigrant chefs from south Asia in the 1970s.

Some 40 restaurants are concentrated in Birmingham’s “balti belt” along Ladypool Road that was badly hit by the July 28 twister which left several buildings badly damaged.

Mohammed Yaqubali, who has shut down one of his Lahori Karahi restaurants due to structural damage and seen a 50 per cent slump in takings at the second, said the famous area is becoming a “ghost town”.

“The balti belt is well-known throughout the country and Europe,” he said.

“It’s a big attraction for tourism. We’re the pioneers of this creation of balti cuisine. But a lot of people who have booked have now cancelled. This is becoming a ghost town.”

The tornado — a phenomenon virtually unknown in Britain — lasted less than a minute, but lifted roofs off houses, overturned cars, uprooted trees and terrified locals used to the more moderate weather of a British summer.

“Some of the lucky ones have their roofs still intact but they have no business whatsoever. Most of us are still closed,” said Yaqubali, also chairman of the Ladypool Road Business Association.

“The fear is that it will take a tremendous amount of time before we can get back to normal.”

Some 500 chefs, waiters and others earn their living in the balti belt.

Rocneddin Shariat, from the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “Ladypool Road, as part of the balti belt, is very important for Birmingham. It’s one of the jewels in the crown of Birmingham.”

“There’s a vital need for information that the majority of Ladypool Road is open for business.”—AFP