Bengal floods: Mamata Banerjee warns DVC of legal action as people are stranded, houses submerged

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Damodar Valley Corporation of causing a man-made disaster and warned the DVC of legal action if they did not stop releasing water.

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Thousands of people have been stranded in South Bengal due to the floods.

In Short

  • Mamata accused DVC of causing man-made floods.
  • Warned DVC of legal action if they didn't stop releasing water.
  • Major areas in South Bengal submerged since DVC released water.

Even as several parts of South Bengal in Burdwan, Bankura and West Midnapore continue to reel under severe deluge, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Damodar Valley Corporation(DVC) of causing man-made floods and warned them of taking legal action if they did not stop releasing water.

Incessant rainfall, along with the release of water through the DVC dams and barrages, has turned the situation grim in South Bengal, leaving thousands stranded and causing severe damage to property.

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WATER RELEASED BY DVC ADD TO WOES

According to state officials, parts of South Bengal were inundated as the DVC released nearly 80 per cent of the water from Panchet and Maithon dams even though the former had requested the corporation to release the water in phases.

Major areas in Howrah, West Midnapore, Burdwan and Bankura got submerged since the DVC released excessive water.

In West Midnapore, Chandrakona town and Ghatal remain the worst affected due to the floods. The Keshpur block in Midnapore Sadar town has also been severely inundated.

At least two persons were killed after being washed away by the flood waters.

Also Read: In flooded Bengal, tragic tales of people swept away, homes lost

PEOPLE STRANDED, HOUSES DAMAGED, CROPLAND SUBMERGED

Rescue teams from NDRF have been deployed.

Several hectares of cropland have also been inundated due to rain water.

Mud houses have been damaged due to the long standing water and the affected people have been shifted to the relief camps.

In several parts of Chandrakona and Khirpai, commutation on the state highway has also been disrupted.

Torrential rainfall over two days has affected Bankura the worst, with local rivers Gandheswari, Darakeshwar, Silavati and Kangshabati flowing above the danger level.

SHALI RIVER BEARS THE BRUNT

However, the local Shali river received the brunt of the released water by DVC, flooding its nearby areas.

Three blocks on the river banks, including Sonamukhi, Patrasayer and Indus, have been badly affected by the water.

While over a thousand houses in numerous villages have been partially destroyed, more than 10,000 hectares of paddy fields are submerged.

Parts of Asansol and Durgapur have also been severely affected due to the deluge.

Poor drainage system has further aggravated the situation. Water released from the Durgapur barrage and the Maithon dam also added to the woes of the locals.

Also read:

Over 300 dead, 6 million hit as floods submerge villages, destroy roads in 5 states

Bengal blames DVC for floods, Goyal calls for system relook