The Hindu : National : 13 killed in West Bengal floods

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Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005

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National

13 killed in West Bengal floods

Special Correspondent

East and West Midnapore districts remain under water; damage put at Rs. 525 crores

TOWARDS SAFETY: Villagers try to get into a boat at the flooded Pratap Dihi village, west of Kolkata on Tuesday. — Photo: AP

Kolkata: Floods that ravaged large areas in the southern districts of West Bengal following incessant rain over the past few days have claimed 13 lives.

More than three million people have been affected.

Though the rain eased on Tuesday the situation in the worst-hit areas remained grim, according to reports reaching the State administration from the districts affected.

Situation reviewed

The damage caused by the floods in south Bengal has been estimated at Rs. 525 crores, State Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said, after reviewing the situation with departments concerned.

Large parts of East and West Midnapore districts - among the worst affected - remain under water, he said.

While six deaths have been reported from East Midnapore district, the death toll in South 24 Parganas district is five.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is expected to visit the flood-affected areas of East Midnapore district on October 28.

He will be reviewing the disbursement of relief material with district officials.

The State Government has already spent Rs. 25 crores on relief for the flood victims.

In all, 1,500 camps have been set up in the affected districts where those rendered homeless by the floods are sheltered.

The State administration is also in touch with the authorities of nationalised banks asking them to extend local re-payment schedules of farmers affected in the floods.

Free distribution of fertilizers and seeds was being contemplated, Dr. Dasgupta said.

The police have been instructed to keep a watch on any sudden rise in prices of essential commodities and foil any move to create an artificial scarcity of the items by unscrupulous traders, the Minister said.

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