Bengal flood situation grim, death toll nears 50

Flood situation in south Bengal remained grim today with death toll nearing 50 while 2.14 lakh people have taken shelter in 1,537 relief camps in the 12 districts affected by the deluge.
Weatherman has forecast more rains in the next 24 hours.
With nine more deaths being reported from different districts today, the death toll from rains and floods climbed to 48, Disaster Management Department sources said.
"Altogether 1,537 relief camps have been set up to shelter over 2.14 lakh marooned people and 204 medical camps have been opened," the sources said adding that the total number of affected people was nearly 37 lakh.

The sources said that 38,046 houses were damaged and 2,05,901 houses were damaged partly. Crop over an area of 4,72,645 hectares was damaged due to the floods.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today held a meeting with senior officials at the state secretariat to review the situation.

She told reporters that she had instructed the officials to monitor the situation round-the-clock and take prompt appropriate steps.
"Even though there was reduced rainfall today, the situation remained unchanged in Burdwan, Hooghly, Howrah, West Midnapore and East Midnapore districts as the quantum of release of water from different barrages remained almost the same following heavy rains in upper catchment areas," state Irrigation Minister Rajib Banerjee said.

The districts of South 24-Parganas, North 24-Parganas, Nadia and Murshidabad districts were the other badly affected areas, he said.
"The situation remained unchanged in the affected districts mainly because of high tide and release of water from different barrages. However, the situation is likely to improve from tomorrow," Banerjee said.
According to an Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) release here, heavy to very heavy rain might occur at isolated places of Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum, Bardhaman, Howrah, East and West Midnapur districts of Gangetic West Bengal.
On Monday, heavy rainfall was likely at isolated places over Gangetic West Bengal, Sub Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, it warned.

The sea would be rough along and off the West Bengal coasts, the IMD today said and asked fishermen to be cautious while venturing out in the waters.