Since Tuesday, at least 10 people have died in rain-related incidents, with nine electrocuted in Kolkata after reportedly coming into contact with exposed or unattended electric wires in flooded areas, according to the officials
On Tuesday, much of Kolkata came to a standstill due to heavy overnight rain. File Pic/PTI
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday declared an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to rain-related incidents across the state, reported the PTI.
While defending her administration’s response to the torrential Kolkata rains that left the city and neighbouring areas waterlogged, Mamata Banerjee criticised the Central Government for failing to dredge the Ganga River and also held Metro Rail authorities partly responsible for flooding in Salt Lake due to ongoing construction work.
Since Tuesday, at least 10 people have died in rain-related incidents, with nine electrocuted in Kolkata after reportedly coming into contact with exposed or unattended electric wires in flooded areas, according to officials, the PTI reported.
Mamata Banerjee urged the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC), which supplies electricity to Kolkata and surrounding regions, to offer Rs 5 lakh in compensation to the families of those who died due to electrocution. She also pledged employment support from the state for affected families.
"The state government will extend Rs 2 lakh ex gratia to each bereaved family. While money can’t bring back lives, we will ensure jobs for their families even if CESC fails to do so," she stated, while urging CESC to accept accountability for the fatalities, according to the PTI.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Ekdalia Durga Puja in South Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee said that she had been monitoring the situation closely since Tuesday, and asserted that water had receded from most parts of the city within a few hours.
“By seven hours, we managed to drain the water. I stayed up till 2 a.m. to ensure no fresh flooding. Most areas are now clear,” she added, as per the PTI.
However, she acknowledged that areas like Thanthania, College Street, and Ballygunge remained submerged until Tuesday morning.
Drawing comparisons with the catastrophic 1978 floods, Mamata Banerjee said, “It was like a cloudburst. We haven’t witnessed rainfall of this scale in years -- possibly worse than 1978.”
The Chief Minister pointed fingers at the Central Government for long-standing neglect of dredging operations in the Ganga and related catchment areas.
“Kolkata Port, Farakka Barrage, and DVC's Maithon haven’t carried out dredging in the past 20 years. Rain in Bihar or Uttar Pradesh flows into Bengal. We are left to handle it all alone,” the chief minister said, according ti the PTI.
CM Banerjee also blamed Metro Railway authorities for worsening waterlogging in Salt Lake, a prominent business district, due to poor construction site management.
“Metro construction has caused blockage; sandbags, pipes, and debris have been left around carelessly. Yesterday, I visited Salt Lake and the area was inundated,” CM Banerjee said.
She criticised the dumping of construction debris and household waste into drains, contributing further to the flooding.
“Despite bins being provided, people are still clogging the drainage system,” she lamented.
On Tuesday, much of Kolkata came to a standstill due to heavy overnight rain, submerging roads, stranding commuters, and disrupting normal life.
(with PTI inputs)
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