Three West Bengal districts flooded
By IANS,
Kolkata : Over 60,000 people have been affected and 10,000 houses washed away in three districts of West Bengal by huge tidal surges in the Bay of Bengal, state finance minister said Thursday.
The three affected districts are East Midnapore, South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas.
"A depression in the Bay of Bengal has resulted in huge tidal surges since Wednesday morning. More than 30 villages and 15 towns in the three districts, adjacent to the sea, have been flooded. Over 60,000 people have been affected and over 10,000 houses have been washed away by seawater so far," finance minister Ashim Dasgupta told reporters at the state secretariat-Writer's building here Thursday afternoon.
The worst-hit areas include popular sea towns of Digha, Mondarmoni, Shankarpur in East Midnapore district and Kakdweep and Sundarbans of South 24 Parganas.
According to East Midnapore district sources, tidal waves ranging from ten to twenty feet continuously splashed on the sea-shores of Digha, Mondarmoni and Shankarpur since Wednesday evening.
"Forty seaside stalls and three hundred fishing boats have been washed away so far. Red alert has been announced to all fishermen. Tourists have been forbidden to go near the sea. Even ground floors of a few hotels have been flooded with sea water," sources said Thursday evening.
About 30 relief camps have been opened in all three districts to provide food and shelter to the flood-victims.
The state government has also allotted relief funds to the districts Thursday.
"We have allocated Rs.20 million towards flood relief and Rs.100 million towards repair of the dams Thursday. The amount will increase as when and when required," Dasgupta said.