Flood situation in WB serious: Minister

Kolkata, Aug 18: The flood situation in West Bengal remained serious today (Aug 18) with several rivers in north and south Bengal flowing above the danger mark as further release of water from reservoirs of the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) threatened to submerge fresh areas, irrigation minister Manas Bhuniya said.

"Several rivers in the state are flowing above the danger mark and a red alert has been sounded in the areas likely to be affected," Bhunia said.

He said that the massive release of 80,000 cusecs from DVC's Maithon and Panchet dams have aggravated the situation in Howrah, Hooghly, parts of Burdwan and East Midnapur.

The flood situation would turn grave in the lower catchment areas once the water discharge reached upto 1,10,000 cusecs, he said.

"The discharge from the Kangsabati river has increased three times from 5,000 cusecs to 15,000 cusecs, threatening to inundate new areas in East Midnapur district," Bhunia said.

The situation in north Bengal is also serious with major rivers in spate following rains in the past three days. A population of 26 lakh was affected in 208 blocks and 60 municipalities with 1,66,219 houses damaged in 14 districts of West Bengal. Twenty-nine persons have so far died in rain-related incidents, he said.

PTI