Over 80,000 affected in north Bengal floods

Siliguri, July 17 (IANS) Over 80,000 people have been affected by floods in West Bengal's three northern districts of Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Cooch Behar. However, with rainfall ending and the river water levels dipping, the situation is likely to improve, an official said Tuesday.

"With the decrease in rainfall, the water level of major rivers has been receding. The flood situation in the districts is likely to improve over the coming days," North Bengal Flood Control Authority chairman Narayan Chatterjee said.

As per district officials, over 80,000 people have been affected by the incessant rain and landslides causing flood like situation in North Bengal. While, over 22,000 people have been affected in Jalpaiguri, a similar number of persons have been affected in Darjeelingdistrict. In Cooch Behar, over 40,000 people have been affected.

The administration has set up nearly 60 relief camps across the affected areas and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Army personnel have been deployed to carry rescue and relief works.

State Irrigation Minister Manas Bhunia, who visited the affected areas, said the administration was keeping a close vigil on the embankments across the bank of Teesta and other major rivers.

Over 2,000 homes across the three districts have been fully or partially damaged rendering several thousand people homeless.

With reports of land slide coming from Kalimpong and Kurseong in Darjeeling districts several areas remained completely cut off with the administration unable to send relief materials there.