More than 180 die in floods
4 Aug 2015 6:37 AM IST
The toll is the highest in West Bengal where 69 people have died so far in flood-related incidents that include lightening, wall collapse, electrocution and drowning. A total of 2,213 relief camps <g data-gr-id="63">have</g> been set up for about 50 lakh affected people and 234 boats deployed for rescue and relief operations.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has spoken to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and enquired about the rescue and relief operations in the wake of floods.
He assured <g data-gr-id="68">her of</g> full central support to deal with the situation. In Gujarat, 71 people have lost their lives due to floods in 14 districts where 40 lakh population was affected. More than ten lakh food packets have been air-dropped or distributed to flood victims. In Rajasthan, 38 deaths have been reported during the past few days owing to heavy rainfall and floods in many parts of the state.
More than 630 people have been rescued from various districts in Rajasthan. Relief materials have been distributed to the affected population.
In Odisha, 4,80,399 people were affected by the floods which so far have claimed five lives. 1574 peoples have been evacuated to safer places by rescue and relief teams.
Seven relief camps have been set up and 132 boats pressed into service for rescue operations here. Union Home Minister Singh also spoke to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and reviewed the flood situation in the state. On <g data-gr-id="71">Monday</g> rescuers resumed their search for villagers after downpours caused a landslide in remote northeastern Manipur, where an official said four bodies have been recovered from a hamlet buried by a collapsed hill.
“We have seen floods, but never anything like this before. This year is the worst.”
Several villages in Manipur were on Monday inundated due to heavy downpour in the state since past few days, with the national highway between capital Imphal and Moreh border town totally cut off due to <g data-gr-id="46">rainfall-triggered</g> landslides.
Thoubal, Chandel, Bishnupur and Imphal West districts lay under flood water as the situation in the region remained unchanged, state Irrigation and Flood Control Department sources said. The worst-affected areas were <g data-gr-id="47">Sugun</g>, Wangoo, <g data-gr-id="48">Wabagai</g>, Hiyanglam areas of Thoubal district, a large portion of Chakpikarong areas in Chandel district and Kumbi, Pangaltabi, Borayangbi, <g data-gr-id="49">Napat</g>, Sandongkhong, in Bishnupur districts, the sources said.
Road communications between Imphal and Moreh border town in Chandel district of Manipur was totally cut off due to landslides triggered by recent incessant rainfall at Lokchao and Khudengtabi along National Highway 102, PWD sources said. The government of Manipur has announced to give Rs 5 lakh <g data-gr-id="45">ex-gratia</g> each to the families of the deceased persons in landslide and flood, according to a government spokesperson.
LS expresses grief at death of people in natural calamities
Lok Sabha on Monday expressed deep anguish over <g data-gr-id="65">loss</g> of lives and displacement of people due to natural calamity in different states including West Bengal, Odisha and Manipur. More than 100 people have lost their lives and over 80 lakh people have been affected by floods caused by excessive rains in many parts of the country.
“The House expresses its deep anguish over this natural calamity which has brought pain and suffering to the bereaved families and wishes speedy recovery to the injured,” Speaker Sumitra Mahajan soon after the House met for the day.
She said about 75 people are reported to have been killed and over 10 lakh persons displaced due to cyclone Komen that caused landslides and floods in West Bengal, Manipur and Odisha.
In the last few days, there also have been <g data-gr-id="69">loss</g> of lives and large scale destruction due to floods in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and other parts of the country.As a mark of respect to the departed, the House stood in silence for a brief while.
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