Heavy rains, water discharge from dams kill 7 in India’s West Bengal

NEW DELHI: AUGUST 3 – At least seven people were killed and around 250,000 people displaced from their homes in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, following heavy rains and discharge of water from dams, officials said Tuesday.

The water inundated six districts of the state. Authorities have launched relief and rescue operations in the affected areas.

“There are reports that seven people have lost their lives due to rain and overflowing of water. Besides this water inundation has damaged several houses and farmlands,” a disaster management official. “Around 250,000 people have been displaced in the affected districts but so far we haven’t made the damage assessment.”

Reports pouring in from the affected districts say people have to wade through water to reach safer locations.

Officials said they have airdropped relief and food material in the affected areas.

“Relief and rescue operations are going on in full swing and helicopters of Indian Air Force have rescued over two dozen people from the inundated areas,” the official said.

Local media reports said water released from the Damodar Valley Corporation dams (DVC) aggravated the situation and triggered the overflowing of rivers.

At present India is in the grip of southwest monsoon and most parts are experiencing heavy to very heavy rainfall, besides extremely heavy spells at isolated spots.

-XINHUA