Toll rises to 31, but flood situation better in West Bengal

Kolkata: The flood situation improved marginally in the state on Saturday even as three more persons died in the past 24 hours, taking the toll to 31, an official said. With the weather condition improving slightly and the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) releasing less water, the situation in 11 flood-hit districts of the state slightly improved, he said.

At the moment, over 23 lakh people have been hit and over 165 villages inundated by heavy rains and the water released by the DVC, he said. Around 2,067 relief camps have been set up in flood-hit districts of the state, where close to 45,000 people have taken shelter.

Meanwhile, an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter this morning rescued nine members of a family from a house in West Midnapore’s Ghatal area. The nine people: a man, three women and five children of the same family, have been winched to safety from a submerged house in Ghatal, an IAF official said.

One IAF helicopter distributed 500 kg of relief materials, including medicines, food and water pouches in the flood-hit areas of the state. “There are a few more members who are still there at the house in Ghatal. They were reluctant to leave their house. We can understand their sentiment. We’ll again request the IAF helicopter to pursue them and rescue them,” he said.

Even as the situation in the state has brightened, the flood in Ghatal had worsened, another official at the state secretariat said, on the condition of anonymity. The state government is yet to estimate the loss incurred by the farmers as over 2.5 lakh hectares of agricultural land were submerged, sources said. 

Meanwhile, heavy rains flooded several parts in Rajasthan and triggered landslides in Himachal Pradesh. In Assam, flood waters were receding in all but six districts. More than 2.000 people are still in various relief camps. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Assam on August 1 to review matters.