Over two lakh individuals have been saved and moved to shelter homes as multiple houses lay ruined in six districts of West Bengal, where water released from Damodar Valley Corporation dams, followed by incessant rain last week, has deluged streets and hamlets. Several zones in Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, Hooghly, Howrah and South 24 Parganas districts are unsteady under flood, with people struggling to paddle through waist-deep water, a senior personnel of the disaster management department said.
Over one lakh tarpaulin, 1,000 MT of rice, thousands of drinking water pouches and clean garments have been sent to the rescue shelters for those afflicted, he stated. “We haven’t yet assessed the loss sustained due to the flood. As of now, our sole priority is to save the affected,” the official emphasised.
Water from Rupnarayan and Dwarakeswar rivers have over topped banks and ingress residential areas, flooding homes in Hooghly district, he said. “At least one lakh individuals have been relocated to safety in Hooghly alone after their houses were ruined. There are several others who are still abandoned on the roof of their homes or elevated structures,” he noted, adding that NDRF personnel are working to rescue them.
State panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee, who toured the flood-hit areas of Ghatal in Paschim Medinipur district during the day, said he would intimate Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of the situation, and actions would be taken accordingly to maintain the situation. “I have seen several floods in the past, but this time the situation is horrible… There are places completely submerged by flood waters. The CM had asked me to look into the matter. After performing this survey, I will report to her,” Mukherjee mentioned.
At the same time, a DVC official stated that water was last discharged from its dams on July 31. The corporation had 1.14 lakh cusec of water on Saturday, he said.
