Flood situation in Bengal grim, death toll rises to 28; rain batters Rajasthan

Twelve more people died in the last 24 hours in flood-affected districts of West Bengal.

Twelve more people died in the last 24 hours in flood-affected 11 districts of West Bengal taking the toll to 28, a senior governement official said.

Around 23 lakh people have been hit in over 165 villages inundated by heavy rains and the water released by Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), the official said, adding the weather conditions showed signs of improving.

The state government has opened around 2,067 relief camps in the affected districts wherein around 44,542 people have been provided shelter, the official said.

An Indian Air Force Mi17 V5 helicopter was sent from the Barrackpore air force station to rescue a family stuck at a house in Ghatal, a Defence spokesperson said. Several areas in West Midnapore, Howrah, Bankura and West Burdwan districts of the state have been flooded due to incessant rains and the release of water by the DVC from its barrages owing to heavy precipitation in upper catchment areas in Jharkhand.

Worse than 1978 flood situtation

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the current flood in West Bengal as worse than the one which hit the state in 1978. "This year's flood condition is worse than that in 1978. There are so many places where there is so much water ... It's so deep at some places," Banerjee said. The state did not have so many dams in 1978, she said.

Rajasthan

Rajasthan is also battling floods in four districts. Over 1,050 people have been rescued from Jalore, Pali, Barmer and Rajsamand districts till Friday, where heavy rains have triggered floods.

In Jalone district alone 128 villages have been affected by the flooding. More than 525 people from these districts have been shifted to 20 special relief camps, a public relations officer of the state government said.

Army evacuated over 500 students, teachers on Friday night, from Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Hostel in Banswara, who were stranded due to flooding.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is monitoring the rescue and relief operations, reports PTI.

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