Slight improvement in flood situation

  • 24/06/2008

  • Hindu (New Delhi)

The flood situation in the Purbo and Paschim Medinipur districts of West Bengal showed some improvement on Monday. The death toll climbed to 30 with 19 deaths reported from Paschim Medinipur and the rest from Purbo Medinipur since the floods hit the region last week after heavy rainfall and discharge of water from the reservoirs. Nearly 3 million people have been affected in the two districts, large parts of which still remain submerged, Minister for Disaster Management Mortaza Hossain said here. More than 7,800 villages in 32 blocks have been affected, he added. Mr. Hossain and Minister of State for Civil Defence Srikumar Mukherjee will be visiting the two districts on Tuesday to supervise relief operations. The State government has so far allotted Rs.22.5 crore for relief operations. Three columns of the Army were assisting in relief operations in Purbo Medinipur district while another was deployed in Paschim Medinipur district, Defence spokesperson R.K. Das said.