Floods create havoc in eastern India

Bhubaneswar, June 19 : Heavy rains in eastern India have caused extensive flooding in parts of West Bengal and Orissa disrupting normal life and loss to life and property.

Experts say that the depression in the Bay of Bengal has resulted in heavy rain and consequent flooding.

At least six people have been killed by the floods that ravaged East and West Midnapore districts in West Bengal.

Sabang, Pingla and Naraingara in West Midnapore district and Pagashur in East Midnapur district are the worst affected.

The area received a record rainfall of 700 mm in the past three days that has affected hundreds of thousands of people.

The flooded Keleghai and the Subarnarekha rivers have cut off road links.

Discharging of 300,00 cusec of water from Subarnarekha barrage has further complicated the situation. River embankment has been breached at various places.

The situation has worsened with fresh floods disrupting the rescue and relief operations.

The state government has deployed the army in the region to carry out rescue and relief operations.

In West Midnapore alone, about 1000 mud houses were totally destroyed and about 2,500 have been partially damaged.

The situation is grim in Balasore district in neighbouring Orissa also.

Though no casualities have been reported in Orissa, five persons were missing when a truck fell into a water body. Communications in the area has also been affected.

More than a million have been affected by the flash floods in Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj districts in Orissa.

ANI