60,000 people affected by flood in Bengal

Kolkata, Sep 18 (UNI) Altogether 60,000 people have been affected as huge tidal waves washed away 10,000 houses in three West Bengal districts, Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta today said.

The Minister said a depression in the Bay of Bengal resulted in huge tidal surges since Wednesday morning flooding 30 villages and 15 towns in the coastal areas of East Midnapore, South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas districts.

'' More than 60,000 people have been affected and about 10,000 houses have been washed away by seawater so far, '' he said.

The worst-hit areas include the sea towns of Digha, Mondarmoni and Shankarpur in East Midnapore district.

The Finance Minister said the state Government had already allocated Rs two crore towards flood relief and Rs ten crore for repairing the damaged dams. So far 30 relief camps had been opened in the three districts to shelter the victims, he said.

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