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Rain continues to batter Kolkata

Staff Reporter

— Photos: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury and PTI

No respite: Torrential rain has affected life in Kolkata for the past three days. People in north Kolkata are still struggling as seen in the picture on Thursday.

Kolkata: Normal life was affected for the third day on Thursday as intermittent spells of heavy rain, accompanied by strong gusts of wind, continued to batter Kolkata and adjoining districts.

Though water receded from most of the major thoroughfares, several low-lying areas continued to remain flooded, adding to the woes of people.

West Bengal Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta, accompanied by Kolkata Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya and Disaster Management Minister Mortaza Hussein, visited parts of the city that were inundated and heard the affected people.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee held a meeting at the Secretariat.

Death toll up in Gujarat

Special Correspondent reports from Gandhinagar:

— Photos: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury and PTI

Villagers cross flood water at Anawada, north of Ahmedabad, on Wednesday.

The death toll in the heavy rain and floods in Gujarat went up to 112 on Thursday, with the recovery of 11 more bodies in Patan district.

An official spokesman said the bodies were recovered as rescue teams reached some marooned villages.

Patan was one of the worst-affected districts in the State, recording nearly 400 mm rainfall in just about 48 hours.

The authorities fear that the death toll could go up further, as the water level started receding and help reaching to the areas, which had remained inaccessible in the last four days.

Dams full

On Thursday, more than 110 talukas in the State received rainfall but mostly less than 50 mm.

The authorities have issued high alert as 57 dams had reached the danger level.

Rain persists

The administrative machinery is geared to meet any eventuality if heavy rain persists.

The weather bureau said the deep depression that was causing widespread heavy rainfall all over the State, particularly in Saurashtra and north Gujarat since Sunday, moved towards south Rajasthan.

Under its impact, north Gujarat districts could receive heavy rainfall in the next 48 hours.

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