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Bengal

Chief Secy meets Central team over damages in Bengal due to Bulbul

Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government has suffered damage to the tune of Rs 23,811 crore due to the severe cyclone Bulbul that had hit Sagar Islands in South 24-Parganas last Saturday.

The same was informed to the Central team that held a meeting in this regard with state Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha at Nabanna on Saturday.

According to the report that was submitted to the Central team led by Union Joint Secretary Home Krishna Bahadur Singh, 35 lakh people in the state have been affected by Bulbul, with 5,17,535 houses being damaged. The maximum damage, however, has been caused to agricultural land, with more than 14,89,924 hectares being affected. Meanwhile, the Power sector has suffered a loss of Rs 597 crore.

"We have submitted a detailed report with the quantum of damage and the monetary loss incurred. We are hopeful that the Centre would consider our situation and provide necessary financial assistance, which would help in undertaking the relief work in a better manner," said a senior official of Nabanna who was present in the meeting.

It may be mentioned that the Central team had visited some of the affected areas on Friday to find out the extent of damage on their own. The nine-member team, divided into two groups, had made an aerial survey of Sandeshkhali and Hingalgunj in North 24-Parganas, while they visited Basirhat and Hasnabad by road. Meanwhile, the other group visited Frasergunj, Namkhana and parts of Patharpratima.

The state government had taken adequate measures to evacuate people to safer places soon after receiving the warning of Bulbul, as a result of which the list of casualties could be limited to nine people.

Senior officials of the state government who were present in the meeting informed the Central team of the relief and rehabilitation work that was carried out by the government in this regard.

"4,35,000 tarpaulins and 6.2 lakh drinking water pouches have been distributed by the Public Health Engineering department. Gosaba and Rongbelia in South 24-Parganas are providing water in 12 affected areas through mobile vans," an official said.

Tourism infrastructure has also suffered reasonable damage due to the cyclone and major tourist destinations like Bakkhali, Henry's Island, Sunderbans, Sagar and Mousuni Island have been affected.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had already made an aerial survey of the affected areas in South and North 24-Parganas and held administrative meetings at Namkhana and Basirhat to take stock of the extent of damage and the relief and rehabilitation work carried out by the government.

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