'Centre not providing any support for man-made floods in Bengal'

Lashing out at Narendra Modi government, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said the Centre is not providing any support for the "man-made floods" that has left 16 districts badly affected in Bengal. However, the scenario is quite different in Gujarat where crores of rupees are being given as compensation.

While leaving Nabanna on Thursday, she said roads, embankments and bridges have been washed out due to the floods in different parts of the affected areas. Floods have led to a huge loss but the Centre is not providing any support. "They are doing nothing about the flood situation here. I will talk to Chief Secretary Malay De after he returns from Delhi," she said.

On the other hand, various parts of the city were inundated after heavy showers lashed Kolkata on Thursday afternoon resulting in traffic snarls in various stretches.

The drainage department employees of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) swung into action to discharge the accumulated water. The situation may further be complicated as the Regional Meteorological Office at Alipore predicted some more rain in the next few days. The city's sky remained overcast from the morning itself. People were inconvenienced as some parts were under knee-deep water. The KMC, however, claimed that the situation was brought under control within minimum possible time.

According to the weather office prediction, Kolkata, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore will receive rainfall for the next 24 hours as well. Some more South Bengal districts will also receive rainfall in the next couple of days. There is no possibility of the situation improving in the next 24 hours in the city as there is a co-existence of Monsoon and low pressure trough in South Bengal ushering in more rain.

An official of the weather office said the situation may continue till Sunday. Due to the rain, various stretches were water-logged.

Central Avenue, MG Road, Park Street became waterlogged resulting in slow movement of traffic which almost came to a standstill on AJC Bose Road. There was water-logging on Theatre Road also.

Police had restricted the movement on Maa flyover in the afternoon for some time. Senior police officers posted themselves at various important intersections to manage traffic. The drainage department employees and officers rushed to the spots where there was accumulated water. They acted on a war-footing to bring the situation under control. Additional pumps were used to clear the accumulated water in various areas.

There was also traffic congestion on Diamond Harbour Road near Sakher Bazar after a tree fell on the road disrupting traffic completely.

New Alipore and Hastings also went under water. South-bound traffic was diverted through EM Bypass, while Behala-Sakherbazar bound traffic was diverted through James Long Sarani.