Situation remains critical in flood-hit Midnapore

Midnapore (West Bengal), June 20 : Flood situation in West Bengal's Midnapore District continued to be critical with rivers flowing above the danger level. So far, 23 people have lost their lives.

According to news reports, over two million people have been marooned during the current spell of floods.

Authorities said rescue operations are being speeded up.

At least 39 speedboats have been deployed in several areas.

The State Government has sought use of air force helicopters to drop food packets in the affected areas, besides deploying the army for rescue work.

But opposition parties accused the Communist Government saying that the rescue work is moving at a snail pace and relief has not reached the flood affected people.

"Till now, no one has come to operate the speedboats. There is no relief to the people. All of us out here are in a bad condition," said Ardhendu Maity, local legislator of Trinamool Congress.

According to reports on Thursday, about 1000 mud houses were totally destroyed and about 2,500 partially damaged in Midnapore.

"Everything is submerged, the situation is bad. There is no relief from these floods, we are really troubled," said Manoranjan Tripathy, a villager.

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

Experts said that a depression in the Bay of Bengal has caused the floods.

ANI