Following the floods triggered by the release of water from the Damodar Valley Corporation dam and heavy rains, at least 14 people have died due to wall collapse or electrocution, while 2.5 lakh have been displaced, a senior official of the West Bengal state government informed.
"We are collecting the details of all 14 people who have lost their lives due to the flood. We are waiting for a final report from the district administrations," the official said.
Several streets and homes have been submerged by water, and the state government has set up shelter homes for the displaced. Over a lakh tarpaulin, 1000 MT of rice, thousands of drinking water pouches and clean clothes were sent to the shelter homes, the official said.
Relief operations are ongoing in flood-affected areas. However, several areas in Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, Hooghly, Howrah and South 24 Parganas districts are reeling under waist-deep water, with people struggling to meet their basic needs, the official stated. On Monday, the armed forces and the air force had undertaken rescue operations in the Hooghly district. Banks and villages have been submerged in the district.