20 killed in rain; situation remains grim

Kolkata, July 6 (UNI) Altogether 20 people were killed and 700,000 affected as the situation remained grim in south Bengal following waterlogging and floods triggered by incessant rains over the past three days.

The army moved in sailing boats and Indian Airforce helicopters went on reconnaissance mission, evacuating the marooned at Ghatal, Arambagh and Sankrail in West and East Midnapore districts as about 6,500 homeless flood victims had been given shelter in different relief camps in different districts, Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said.

Even though water receded in several places of Kolkata and its adjoining areas, heavy rain in the catchment areas inundated vast tracts of East and West Midnapore, Bankura and Bardhaman districts.

Official reports said altogether 20 people had died so far in different incidents, related to the flood and waterlogging in the past three days.

Work for Tata Motors' small car project remained suspended for the second successive day as accumulated rain water inside the project area refused to dissipate.

The Finance Minister said several boats of the state Government's civil defence department had been pressed into service for rescuing people in the affected areas.

He said the state government had sanctioned Rs 12 crore for providing relief to the flood-hit people.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who held a high level meeting to review the situation, would visit West Midnapore along with Health Minister Surjyakanta Mishra while the Finance Minister would go to East Midnapore district tomorrow to assess the situation.

Meanwhile, the situation in Kolkata that experienced widespread deluge following rains triggered by a depression, improved even though several areas in the western part and on the northern fringe still remained submerged.

Weather office said the depression that was situated 50 km north of the city, was heading towards Jharkhand.

UNI