Floods wreak havoc in Bengal; Over 50 people, including 4 children, dead

PTI
KOLKATA, AUGUST 2

The flood situation in south Bengal remained grim on Sunday with the death toll crossing 50. Around 2.14 lakh people have taken shelter in 1,537 relief camps in the 12 districts affected by the deluge.
With nine more deaths being reported from different districts on Sunday, the death toll from rains and floods climbed over 50.
These deaths include the demise of four children, reported IANS. The children were killed and four other people were seriously injured when they were struck by lightning in Basithat in North 24 Parganas district on Sunday, police said.
Buildings with weak structures collapsed in many places, including in Kolkata, following overnight downpour.
While two people were killed in a building collapse in Katwa in Burdwan district, an elderly man was crushed to death after a portion of his house collapsed in Kolkata.
A two-year-old was killed in Murshidabad district when a wall collapsed. A similar death was reported in Bankura district.“Altogether 1,537 relief camps have been set up to shelter over 2.14 lakh marooned people and 204 medical camps have been opened,” sources told PTI, adding that the total number of affected people was nearly 37 lakh.
The sources said that 38,046 houses were damaged and 2,05,901 houses were damaged partly. Crop over an area of4,72,645 hectares was damaged due to the floods.
President Pranab Mukherjee, in individual messages to the governors of the flood-affected states including West Bengal, condoled the loss of lives due to Cyclone Komen and the floods.
Mamata reviews situation, assures support to people
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday held a meeting with senior officials at the state secretariat to review the situation. She also postponed her upcoming tour of north Bengal.
“Over 12 districts have been hit and over 36 lakh people affected by the heavy rainfall. Till today, 71 mm of rainfall has been recorded. The release of water by the neighbouring states like Odisha and Jharkhand has only compounded the problem,” said the CM.
The Chief Minister said Murshidabad, Hooghly, Burdwan, Howrah were the worst affected districts. She assured that top government and police officials were deputed to supervise relief and rescue work.
Banerjee said that besides 47 municipalities, 210 blocks and 9,691 villages were affected by the flood due to heavy rains triggered by Cyclone Komen. Crops in over 2.1 lakh hectares of land were destroyed across the state, she said.
“While the entire state administration is working to reach out to the affected, we urge all political parties and NGOs to assist in relief work,” she said.
She told reporters that she had instructed the officials to monitor the situation round-the-clock and take prompt appropriate steps.
“Even though there was reduced rainfall today, the situation remained unchanged in Burdwan, Hooghly, Howrah, West Midnapore and East Midnapore districts as the quantum of release of water from different barrages remained almost the same following heavy rains in upper catchment areas,” state Irrigation Minister Rajib Banerjee said.
The districts of South 24-Parganas, North 24-Parganas, Nadia and Murshidabad districts were the other badly affected areas, he said.
“The situation remained unchanged in the affected districts mainly because of high tide and release of water from different barrages. However, the situation is likely to improve from tomorrow,” Rajib Banerjee said.
Heavy to very heavy rain expected on Monday in some areas, says IMD
According to an Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) release in Kolkata, heavy to very heavy rain might occur at isolated places of Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum, Bardhaman, Howrah, East and West Midnapur districts of Gangetic West Bengal.
On Monday, heavy rainfall was likely at isolated places over Gangetic West Bengal, Sub Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, it warned.
The sea would be rough along and off the West Bengal coasts, the IMD said on Sunday and asked fishermen to be cautious while venturing out in the waters.
The Chief Minister, who had visited the affected areas in Udainarainpur in Howrah district on Saturday, is likely to go to more flood-affected areas soon, state secretariat sources said.
Banerjee instructed a number of ministers and senior officials to visit the affected areas and supervise relief arrangement.
Situation improves slightly as rain water recedes on Sunday
The situation in the city improved on Sunday with rain water receding from most areas which went under water after deluge since Friday. Over the two days, the city recorded rainfall measuring 170 mm due to Cyclone Komen.
Water had receded from places in Central Avenue, Amherst Street, Camac Street, Swinhoe, Street, Lansdowne Market areas, Alipore by Saturday night itself, member mayoral council (drainage) Tarak Singh said.
“Waterlogging is still there at added areas in ward no 122, 125, 126. Our officers are there,” he added.
Normal train services at Howrah and Sealdah sections of Eastern Railway have been restored with removal of water from the tracks, said ER CPRO, Ravi Mahapatra.
The city’s underground Metro Railway service also ran normally, said Mahapatra, who is also Metro Railway CPRO.
Normal train services have also been restored under South Eastern Railways. Movement of the trains was a bit slow as tracks at some places were still submerged, the SER CPRO Sanjay Ghosh said.
Army rescue operation in Gujarat, Rajasthan on
AHMEDABAD: From restoring railway tracks to rescuing a drowning mother and her baby, and even a dog, the Army and Air Force personnel have come handy in the flood-hit areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Troops of southern command and south western command have been involved in rescue operations in flood-affected areas of Gujarat and parts of Rajasthan.
“They have evacuated more than 1,000 people to safer area and provided relief items such as food, drinking water and medicines and medical cover to over 2,400 people. A total of 28 relief teams, seven medical teams and seven ETFs (Engineer Task Forces) were deployed,” Army sources said.
The Army flood relief columns are located in Banaskantha and Bhuj in Gujarat, and Chirpatiya, Dhanera and Sanchor in Rajasthan.
Of the many stories of bravery that have come out, the act of Havaldar Yousouf stands out as he rescued a drowning mother and her baby in Shervo village, situated approximately 50 kms north of Bhuj in Kutch district of Gujarat.
Due to heavy rains and floods in the region from July 27 to July 30, the lone connecting road to Shervo from Hudco village was severely damaged and hence all communication and supplies were cut off.
A team from the Army as well as Gujarat Police was tasked with relief and evacuation on July 31. The evacuation began in the afternoon and about 200 villagers including 17 infants and 32 children had to be evacuated on foot.
The nearest village was 13 kms away with several cuts on the road and fast flowing water on either side. Villagers were made to cross these cuts with the help of a rope and a human chain formed by the troops against the flow of water.