Army boats, IAF copters sought in rain-hit Bengal

Calcutta, Sept 25: The West Bengal Government today decided to seek help of the Army and Air Force in Burdwan and Birbhum districts, the ...

Calcutta, Sept 25: The West Bengal Government today decided to seek help of the Army and Air Force in Burdwan and Birbhum districts, the two most affected, amidst fear that the state may see another spell of deluge as the low pressure, which had headed towards Bihar yesterday, suddenly turned east during the day and is now moving towards Darjeeling and Cooch Behar.

At least 17 people were killed so far and 10 lakh more were affected in the rain although state Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta, confirmed only eight. Fifteen districts were declared flood-affected by the government. The Minister said the low pressure has turned towards North Bengal districts after wreaking havoc in the south.

Chief Minister Jyoti Basu, who held a high-level meeting at the state secretariat during the day, directed the officials to carry on relief and rescue operations on a war footing.

Dasgupta said the situation had turned serious due to incessant rain and full moon high tide. As many as 85 thousand people, including 30,000in Calcutta, had been shifted to safer places.

He said that eight Army teams have been asked to join the rescue operations with boats in Birbhum and Burdwan districts, and Chief Secretary Manish Gupta was hoolding talks with the Air Force for requisitioning two Mi-8 helicopters.

Murshidabad, Midnapore and Burdwan reported two more deaths each today, while another death was reported from Howrah, district officials said.The goverment today released Rs five crore, in addition to the Rs 10 crore released yesterday for relief and rescue.

The Massanjore dam in Burdwan district, which had a maximum retaining capacity of 404 ft, has been threatened as the water level had risen to 403 ft.

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With 4.66 lakh cusecs released from different reserviors, Mnteshwar and Ketugram in Burdwan district, Khanakul in Hooghly and Amta and Udaynarayanpur in Howrah have been inundated.

In Calcutta most areas remained waterlogged for the second day. A number of low-lying areas in Patipukur, Ultadanga, Topsia, Tangra, Ballygunge,Jadavpur, Lake Town, Mominpur, Ekbalpur, Khidirpur and Behala are still under waist-deep water. Four speedboats of the civil defence department and four others of the fire brigade are deployed.

According to additional district magistrate general of burdwan Subrata Biswas, Army jawans are expected to begin rescue operation from this evening as water of the river Ajay crossed the danger level at Bhedia, Ketugram, Noapara.

Nearly 5,500 villagers have been put up in 408 relief camps at Ausgram I and II blocks, Manteswar, Purbasthali and Kalna-L.