West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to hold flood-control meeting after returning from Delhi

KOLKATA: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will hold a meeting with senior state government officials on the flood situations in the North Bengal districts of Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling.

"She is currently in Delhi and is expected to return to Kolkata on July 30. Immediately after her return, the chief minister will hold a review meeting to monitor flood situations in North Bengal and supervise the relief operations," a senior official at the chief minister's office said on Wednesday.

Sources said the state administration had provided relief materials to about 1.20 lakh people of the flood-affected districts. About 84,000 people in ten blocks of Cooch Behar were affected badly due to floods. More than 7,000 houses were also damaged. The worst affected areas of the district include Dinhata, Mekhligunj and Mathabhanga.

In Alipurduar, Kumargram block was affected the most and marooned people were shifted to safer places. At least 45 boats and 15 medical teams have been pressed into services to help the affected people there.

According to senior officials of the state administration, the state government might seek help from the Centre if the flood situation deteriorates in North Bengal.