West Bengal flood situation improves, death toll at 85

KOLKATA: The flood situation in West Bengal showed further improvement today on account of little or no rainfall since yesterday and a reduced quantity of water discharge from barrages upstream, even as the death toll rose to 85.

Two more deaths were reported today, taking the toll to 85, Disaster Management Department sources said.

"Altogether, 2,546 relief camps have been set up to shelter over 4.56 lakh marooned people and nearly 667 medical camps opened," the sources said, adding the total number of affected people was nearly 63 lakh.

As many as 1,12,235 houses were damaged and 3,78,184 houses damaged partly. Crop over an area of 8,20,435 hectares has been damaged.

The chief minister has demanded adequate funds from the Centre for post-flood work. She has sought an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during her visit to Delhi on August 11 and 12 to place her demands for flood damages from the National Disaster Relief Fund.

Banerjee, who blamed the DVC for an 'abnormal' release of water for the aggravated flood fury, said she would raise the issue during his meeting with the PM.

The affected areas included 235 blocks, 53 municipal bodies, two municipal corporations and 781 gram panchayats (GPs) covering 16,414 villages.

So far, 10,089 cattle heads were lost, the sources said, adding shelter for those surviving would be made after the water recedes.

Steps were also being taken to protect the affected people from health hazards, while medicines and drinking water pouches were being distributed, sources said.