7 dead, 2.5 lakh affected as heavy rains flood West Bengal

At least seven people have died and nearly 2.5 lakh have been displaced from their homes in six flood-hit districts of West Bengal. Several areas in Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, Hooghly, Howrah and South 24 Parganas districts are reeling under flood, with people struggling to wade through waist-deep water.

Kolkata: At least seven people have died and nearly 2.5 lakh have been displaced from their homes in six flood-hit districts of West Bengal, where water released from the Damodar Valley Corporation dams (DVC) and heavy rain late last week have inundated streets and hamlets, a senior state government official said on Monday. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directed ministers to keep a tab on the rescue operations and see that relief materials reach all affected people, he said.

The Army and the Air Force on Monday undertook rescue and relief operations in Hooghly district, where many areas have been submerged due to excess rainfall and overflowing of rivers. Several areas in Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, Hooghly, Howrah and South 24 Parganas districts are reeling under flood, with people struggling to wade through waist-deep water. Over one lakh tarpaulin, 1,000 MT of rice, thousands of drinking water pouches and clean clothes have been sent to the rescue shelters for those affected, the official stated. "We have not yet estimated the loss incurred due to the flood. As of now, our sole priority is to rescue the affected," he said.

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Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee, who visited the flood-hit areas of Ghatal in Paschim Medinipur district during the day, said he would apprise Banerjee of the situation, and steps would be taken accordingly to tackle the situation. "I have witnessed several floods in the past, but the situation is terrible this time. The CM had asked me to look into the matter. After conducting this survey, I will report to her," Mukherjee said. Water from Rupnarayan and Dwarakeswar rivers have overtopped banks and entered residential areas, flooding homes in Hooghly district, the official said. "At least one lakh people have been moved to safety in Hooghly district alone after their houses were damaged. There are several others who are still stranded on the roof of their homes or elevated structures," he said, adding that NDRF personnel are working to rescue them.

A Defence spokesperson said that helicopters and boats were used in relief and rescue operations in Hooghly district, following a request from the state government.
Choppers dropped emergency food supplies in the affected areas. "Helicopters of Indian Air Force rescued 31 people from rooftops and brought them to safety to Arambagh," he said. One flood-relief column of the Army was deployed at Dhanyaghari in Hooghly, the official said. Meanwhile, a DVC official said that water was last discharged from its dams on July 31.

Three die in lightning strike

Three persons including a couple died on Monday as lightning struck them in West Bengal's Birbhum district, police said. They were working on an agricultural field in Santoshpur village under Nalhati police station. When it started raining, the three took shelter in an abandoned hut which was struck by lightning killing them.
Of the three deceased, Jagannath Tudu and his wife Sumi Tudu were residents of Santoshpur, while Dilu Hembram hailed from Jharkhand, police said.
The bodies were sent for post-mortem examination.

PTI