Toll rises to 47 in Bengal flood

Kolkata, Sept 25 (UNI) The toll in the flood sweeping West Bengal rose to 47 today with inundation of fresh areas affecting a total of 5.7 million people in 16 districts of the state.

Describing the situation as grim, Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said more areas of Hooghly, Howrah, Nadia, Birbhum and Bardhaman district were flooded following discharge of water from DVC barrages, while the overflowing Bhagirathi deluged large areas of Murshidabad district.

Altogether 1.81 lakh houses were damaged either fully or partially rendering many people homeless, Dr Dasgupta said.

More than 100 villages in Udaynarayanpur sub-division of Howrah and large areas of Hooghly, Birbhum, Bardhaman and Nadia district went under water in the past 24 hours.

The Minister said 15 boats had been pressed into service in Udayanarayanpur to evacuate the marooned people.

Though rain in south Bengal had abated, the downpour in the catchment areas of Bihar-Jharkhand region had made several rivers swell forcing DVC authorities to release water from the barrages, he said.

Meanwhile, the state government, which reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting, sanctioned another Rs six crore taking the total amount for relief to Rs 40 crore.

Dr Dasgupta said 3,700 ton of food and 1.20 lakh tarpaulins had been sent as relief to different districts. However, the Government was concerned over how to reach the relief materials to block levels, he said.

UNI KDG SJC DB1730