A flooded road in West Midnapore district, West Bengal (PTI)
The number of people who have died in
floods in West Bengal has reached 39 today with the death of five more people. The situation, however, has improved with water level in rivers receding and no fresh rain.
"Out of the 39 death, 19 drowned, three got electrocuted, five each died due of wall collapse, lightning and snake bite, while two others died after their boat sank," an officer of the state disaster management department said in Kolkata. "The situation is improving slowly mainly because less water has been released from dams and also of less rainfall in the past few days," he said.
In the 14 flood-hit districts in West Bengal, 27 lakh people have been affected by flood. The government has set up 311 relief camps where over 47,000 people have taken shelter, the officer said, adding it has also set up 131 medical camps.
"Over 16,000 animals are being sheltered in relief camps for animals and veterinary doctors are looking after them. We have also sent medicines, water pouches and other items to all the districts," he said.
An official at the agriculture department said some four lakh hectares of farm land have been affected by flood, adding two lakh volunteers are participating in rescue operations.
The state government said it will rebuild houses of people
affected by flood, give them drinking water and medicines, and distribute seeds to farmers.