Cyclone Aila toll rises to 87 in West Bengal

Kolkata, May 27 (ANI): 'Cyclone Aila' has claimed 87 lives in West Bengal.

Sixteen of the 87 dead were victims of a landslide in North Bengal

Chief Minister Buddadeb Bhattarcharjee reviewed the situation after visiting Nimpith area in South 24 Parganas on Tuesday.

Railway Minister Mamta Bannerjee also came with a bevy of officials and conducted a survey of the devastation.

The Centre had dispatched 2500 personnel of the paramilitary forces to assist in the relief and rescue operations and the state government has sanctioned 1.50 crore rupees from the Contingency Fund for rescue and relief operations.

"We talked to PMO, the defence ministry, the finance ministry, the home ministry and the central government. Army and BSF are here. They are doing ground work, helicopters are dropping food and water but what we feel is that there are some areas which are still damaged badly," said Mamta Banerjee.

Operations are being carried out in Sandeshkhali and Kultali of North and South 24 Parganas districts.

Army has taken up rescue operations in Hingalganj in North 24 Parganas and Gosaba, Patharpratima and Sagardwip areas in South 24 Parganas.

Two MI-17 helicopters were air-dropping food packets in the two worst hit areas in the two districts. (ANI)