West Bengal Rains: 7 Dead, Lakhs Displaced From Homes As Water Discharged From Dams Flood State
At least 7 people have died and nearly 2.5 lakh have been displaced from their homes as monsoon battered the state of West Bengal. On Monday, the Army and the Air Force undertook rescue and relief operations in the Hooghly district, most of which is submerged due to excess rainfall.
Lakhs shifted to shelter homes
Lakhs of people have been rescued and shifted to shelter homes as several houses were damaged in six worst-hit districts of south Bengal. The districts that have been affected include Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, Hooghly, Howrah and South 24 Parganas.
As per the media reports, water released from the Damodar Valley Corporation dams (DVC) and heavy rain late last week have caused waterlogging and made the situation worse for the residents.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has directed her cabinet ministers to keep a tab on the rescue operations, a senior state government official said, adding that the CM has directed ministers to be present at their respective districts and oversee the relief and rescue operations.
Rescue operation underway
Over one lakh tarpaulin, 1,000 MT of rice, thousands of drinking water pouches and clean clothes have been sent to the rescue shelters for those affected, the official stated. "We have not yet estimated the loss incurred due to the flood. As of now, our sole priority is to rescue the affected," he said.
A Defence spokesperson said that helicopters and boats were used in relief and rescue operations in Hooghly district, following a request from the state government.Choppers dropped emergency food supplies in the affected areas.?"Helicopters of Indian Air Force rescued 31 people from rooftops and brought them to safety to Arambagh," he said.
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Monsoon wreaks havoc in other states
According to the reports by PTI, the extensive rainfall has pushed Rajasthan from the deficit rainfall category to that of normal rainfall within a week.?Around 14 out of its 33 districts received normal downpours and 10 witnessed excess showers of rain.?Ten districts that recorded excess rainfall are Alwar, Baran, Bharatpur, Churu, Dholpur, Hanumangarh, Jaisalmer, Karauli, Kota and Pratapgarh, reported PTI.
Similarly, in Uttar Pradesh, moderate to heavy rains accompanied by thundershowers occurred at many places, the meteorological department revealed on Monday.?As per the report by PTI, Tehrauli (Jhansi) recorded 17 cm of rainfall, while 11 cm of rainfall was observed at Mahroni (Lalitpur). 9 cm each at Kulpahar (Mahoba) and Chilaghat (Jhansi), Beberu (Banda), Dhaurahara (Kheri) and 7 cm each at Talbehat (Lalitpur), Mauranipur (Jhansi), Mahoba, Banda and Nautanwa (Maharajganj), reported PTI.
