Flood toll reaches 34 in Bengal; 5.3 mn affected

Kolkata, July 10: The death toll in south Bengal floods climbed up to 34 today as 5.3 million people continued to be affected in five districts even though the overall situation marginally improved.

''The overall situation has improved slightly and the river waters in two Midnapore districts have started receding. But 1.47 lakh homeless people are still sheltered in 958 relief camps,'' Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said.

Dr Dasgupta said the government had so far sanctioned Rs 18 crore for relief and reconstruction work and dispatched 4.5 lakh tarpaulins for sheltering the homeless.

He said except for Behala in the eastern part of Kolkata, the situation in the city that experienced massive waterlogging last week, was normal.

Altogether eight pumps were working in the Behala, large parts of which still remained submerged, to flush out the accumulated water, he said.

UNI