45,000 people affected, 6000 houses damaged due to floods

Midnapore, Aug 2 (UNI) More than 45,000 people in about 40 villages under Dantan, Keshiary and Gopiballavpur blocks have been affected by the rising water levels of Subarnarekha in the last three days, West Midnapur District ADM Smaraki Mahapatra said here today.

About 15,000 people had been evacuated and put in 30 camps, she said. About 6,000 houses were also damaged.

Adequate number of tarpaulins, rice and cash had been distributed to the affected people. The state government has been asked to supply more tarpaulins and cash amounts for distributions among the affected people.

Heavy rainfall in the upper catchments area of the Subarnarekha river has been responsible for this flood, the ADM said.

In many villages like Bara, Antri under Dantan police station area, the only mode of transport for the villagers, were improvised boats made from banana plantations.

State Relief Minister Murtaza Houssain would be visiting the affected areas in Dantan Block tomorrow, Mr Mahapatra said.

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