Mamata conducts aerial survey of cyclone-hit areas; says restoration work in full swing

After protests in several cyclone-affected areas of West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday urged the people to have patience as the administration was working tirelessly to restore water and power supply.

She also conducted an aerial survey of the cyclone-affected areas.

She said around 1,000 teams were employed in the restoration process in the state, besides the police, health workers, firefighters, agricultural workers and disaster management personnel.

"This is huge disaster. Our teams are working very seriously. At least 1,000 teams are working in the state. Along with them local youths are also working.

"The police besides maintaining lockdown and law and order, are also helping in the restoration process," Banerjee said at the state secretariat in the evening.

Cyclone Amphan has claimed 86 lives in West Bengal and caused havoc in at least 14 districts mainly in South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, North 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts.

At least 225 teams will be working the whole night to clear the roads.

"In the city itself, 115 teams are working. NDRF, SDRF, CESC, state electricity and police are working in the state... Remember that we are not sleeping," she said.

"There are a few areas in Kolkata where there is no electricity hampering water supply. I have called up the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC) at least 10 times. Even I do not have proper phone network... I cannot watch television at home.

"People should understand the ground reality and have patience. Some of you have started negative campaigning against the government. This is not the time to do politics. Cyclone Amphan is more than a national disaster and people should understand the ground reality and cooperate," Banerjee asserted.

Not naming any political party, Banerjee said a few people were trying to do politics.

Meanwhile, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh was stopped from visiting a cyclone relief centre during the day in South 24 Parganas district.

"We got only a day's times. Everybody was busy because of Prime Minister's programme. Yesterday, two halves of the day were spent to be with the PM. How much time did we get?