Bengal flood situation improves, toll climbs to 132

The flood situation in West Bengal is gradually improving, even as the death toll climbed to 132.
Seven more deaths were reported today taking the toll to 132, Disaster Management Department (DMD) officials said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought Rs 21,000 crore flood relief package for undertaking rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the state's flood-devastated areas.
Task Forces have already been set up in all the 12 flood-hit districts for relief and restoration work with constant monitoring by the district magistrates.
"Altogether, 1,704 relief camps have been set up to shelter nearly 3.15 lakh marooned people and 749 medical camps opened," DMD officials said, adding, the total number of affected people was over 1.06 crore.

As many as 7.68 lakh houses were damaged and crops over an area of 12,92,372 hectares has been badly hit.

The affected areas included 236 blocks, 55 municipal bodies, four municipal corporations and 814 gram panchayats covering 21,896 villages.
So far 22,761 cattle heads were also lost, they said.
Steps have been taken to protect the affected people from health hazards, while medicines and drinking water pouches were being distributed, the officials added.