Floods has claimed 152 lives and caused losses of Rs140bn in 11 districts of West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said yesterday after visiting three northern districts where large areas continued to be submerged.
“The floods have caused losses totalling almost Rs14,000 crore in 11 districts of the state. So far, there are reports of 152 deaths due to various causes like drowning, snake bites, etc in the state in the ongoing floods. Over 1.5 crore people have been affected,” she said.
Hitting out at the central government, she said it should ensure that dredging of barrages is done properly.
“The floods have taken place due to the release of water by the DVC (Damodar Valley Corporation) and Farakka Barrage. The state of the reservoirs and river beds has become such that people are getting hit more by the release of water rather than by rains,” she alleged.
“Bengal has become like a boat. Neither the Farakka Barrage nor the reservoirs under the DVC are dredged.”
Banerjee said 4.5mn people have been affected in the three north Bengal districts of Malda, North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur.
She said about 400,000 tents have been distributed and more are being provisioned for distribution.
“There is enough aid material. We are not stingy about distributing them. Many speed boats are also operating in the flooded areas for distributing relief,” she said.
The chief minister went to various inundated areas, heard grievances of the affected people and instructed the administration to be prompt in relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction work.
“I have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few times regarding the erosion of the Ganga’s banks but no actions have been taken,” she alleged.


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