State provides relief material to 1.20L flood affected people

The state government has provided relief materials to around 1.20 lakh people who are affected due to heavy inundation in four districts in North Bengal.

According to the sources in the state disaster management department, around 20 blocks and areas under three municipalities were affected due to heavy inundation in Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar as well as the plain lands in Darjeeling district.

Around 84,000 people were affected in ten blocks in Cooch Behar. The blocks in Cooch Behar where around 7,000 houses were partly and fully damaged include Dinhata, Mekhliganj and Mathabhanga, sources said. The only block in Alipurduar that is affected is Kumargram where around 200 people were affected and to whom the relief of the state government has reached, sources said.

The seven blocks including Mal, Mainaguri and Dhupguri were the worst affected in Jalpaiguri district where the state government has provided relief materials to around 28,000 people. Around 5,627 people in the plain land in Darjeeling district were affected and necessary initiatives have been taken to ensure safety and security of the residents in the area. At present there are around 23,000 people who have been taken to safe places that include relief camps set up by the state government. 

It includes around 20,000 people only from Cooch Behar district who were given shelter in 77 rescue camps. 5 and 6 relief camps were set up in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts respectively.

It is learnt that 45 boats were deployed in Cooch Behar to rescue the people and cattle. The rescue workers have brought 19,000 cattle in safe places. Around 15 medical teams were deployed in Cooch Behar. Besides distributing food among the affected people, the state government has also distributed around 30,000 water pouches to ensure sufficient supply of safe drinking water.

The state government has distributed around 292.5 quintal rice among people in Jalpaiguri. Tarpaulins were also distributed.

Rajib Banerjee, the state irrigation minister, is constantly monitoring the situation in North Bengal and he gave direction to the officials of his department to rush to the spot immediately after receiving any information.

Jyotipriya Mullick, the state food minister, said that his department is ready to supply food grains if required for the people affected due to inundation and it will be given as and when required.