File Photo: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (Press Trust of India)
The excessive rain for the past two days coupled with high tide and water released from Jharkhand and Odisha has rendered the flood situation in West Bengal "beyond control", Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said.
She advised people in vulnerable areas to take shelter in relief camps to avoid "untoward incidents."
"In the last four years there has been no flood like this year's. So far we have witnessed man-made floods and we have restricted them quite successfully. But the situation at present is rendered beyond control," Ms Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat Nabanna today.
"I know that it is difficult to stay out of home but life is priority. So you must stay in relief camps for two, three days," Ms Banerjee said, advising people in vulnerable areas to take shelter at relief camps.
Yesterday, I had said that there was 61 per cent excess rainfall. Today, it's 70 per cent excess rainfall, she said.
Holding the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) responsible for releasing excess water resulting in floods in the state, Ms Banerjee said, "DVC is doing business...We love them but that does not mean they will submerge Bengal."
"Two years ago we had written to the Centre that more than two lakh cusecs of water can be reserved in DVC reservoir only if dredging is done. I will again write to them," she said.
The chief minister earlier held a meeting with Chief Secretary, DGP, IG Law and Order, IG Police and Disaster Management Secretary.