The West Bengal Government on Wednesday called in the Army and the Air Force as continuous rainfall caused flash floods in West Midnapur district. The incessant rainfall was triggered by a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal and the southwest monsoon since Monday. At least five persons were killed and 1.6 million people affected. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's assistant and two others went missing on Tuesday evening after they were washed away in a flash flood in Paschim Midnapore district. Several areas of the district were flooded following heavy rains for the past 36 hours. Bose and six others were on their way to Kolkata from Orissa, when flood waters washed away their car on a bridge between Belda and Narayangarh on Tuesday night. Four of the passengers were rescued by villagers. On Wednesday, Coast Guard divers were pressed into action to try and find Gautam Basu and his two companions Rajendra Lakhotia and Ramesh Kanojia. Flood waters entered Midnapur town and several other districts like East Midnapore and South 24 Parganas were also affected. A high-level meeting was held at Writer's Building on Wednesday presided by state Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta to review the flood situation. "The situation is serious. We have earmarked Rs 2.5 crore for relief and rescue. The Army and Air Force have already initiated rescue work. About 1.6 million people have been affected. We have so far been able to rescue 50,000 people and provide shelter to 40,000 people in West Midnapur, " said Asim Dasgupta. N S Nigam, district magistrate of West Midnapur, said: "Till now, I have reports of death of our people in different parts of the district. The Air Force has already started rescue work at Belda. Our relief material is ready. Waters have also inundated parts of the Midnapur town. However, the rain has stopped and we expect the water to start receding by this evening.' Orissa Air Force put on alert As the flood situation in Orissa became grim claiming four lives, the state Government on Wednesday alerted the IAF for rescue operations, sources said. "We have alerted the Air Force. We may ask them to send choppers if the situation becomes difficult,' Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Manmohan Samal said. Describing the situation, particularly in Balasore, as "grim', the minister said nearly 1.5 lakh people had been affected due to the flash floods. "We apprehend the situation could worsen in the next three days as Met office has predicted heavy rainfall in the northern region,' he said. In the worst-hit Balasore district, four blocks