Bengal flood situation improves

The flood situation in West Bengal has improved with the water level receding in various areas and people returning to their homes though DVC released 34,000 cusec of water from its dams today.
"The water has receded in West Midnapore, Howrah and in major parts of East Midnapore districts. People have started returning to their homes from relief camps," Joint secretary Disaster Management department, Amit Choudhury told PTI.
Parts of Hoogly and Burdwan districts were, however, still inundated.
The six affected districts are West and East Midnapore, Howrah, Bankura, Hooghly and Burdwan where 17 people have so far died. There was, however, no fresh death today.

Lakhs of people in 82 blocks of these districts have been affected with nearly 75,000 houses either fully or partially damaged, official sources said.
A compensation of Rs two lakh has already been announced by the state government to the next of kin of the victims.
Chief Minister, who visited four affected districts, had described the flood as 'man-made' and blamed DVC and Jharkhand government for sudden release of water from Maithan and Panchet dams and Galudhi barrage without any consultation and prior information to the state government.
Both DVC and Jharkhand government have denied the allegation saying prior intimation on the release of water was given to the state government.