81 dead in floods across India; Mamata Banerjee says situation in West Bengal 'beyond control'

At least 81 people lost their lives and more than 80 lakh people were affected in fresh floods due to excessive rains in worst affected Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Odisha.

While the death toll touched 48 in West Bengal, 28 died in Rajasthan and five in Odisha, a Home Ministry statement said here today.

A total of 36,90,627 people in 9,691 villages of 210 blocks in 12 districts in West Bengal have been affected due to floods, while a population of 40 lakh in Gujarat and 4,80,399 in Odisha, it said.

In West Bengal, 48 deaths have been reported from various parts of the state during the floods owing to lightening, wall collapse, electrocution, snake bite and drowning.

 The excessive rain for the past two days coupled with high tide and water released from Jharkhand and Odisha has rendered the flood situation in West Bengal "beyond control", Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said.

She advised people in vulnerable areas to take shelter in relief camps to avoid "untoward incidents."

Gujarat

In Gujarat, 14 districts and population of about 40 lakh were affected in recent floods due to heavy rainfall in the last few days. More than 10 lakh food packets have been airdropped or distributed to the flood victims, an official statement said.

Temporary relief camps have been set up in affected areas and peoples are accommodated on need basis. A total of 17 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed for rescue and relief operations in Gujarat.

Rajasthan

In Rajasthan, so far 28 people have lost their lives, out of which 12 people died during past few days owing to very heavy rainfall and flood like situation in many parts of the state. Rajasthan has experienced excessive rainfall in most of its districts. The situation is grim particularly in districts of Jalore, Jhalawar, Baran, Sirohi, Barmer and Dungarpur.

Apart from State Disaster Response Force, Police, RAC etc., at present eight teams of NDRF were deployed for rescue and relief operations. So far, more than 630 peoples have been rescued from various districts in Rajasthan. Relief materials have been distributed to the affected population.

West Bengal

Fourty eight people have died in the floods in West Bengal owing to lightening, wall collapse, electrocution, snake bite and drowning. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called in the army for rescue operations in the worst flood-hit areas on Sunday. She has postponed her tri to northern West Bengal in order to personally look at the rescue operations. 

I have postponed my trip to N Bengal. Again heavy rainfall in Bengal, Jharkhand & Odisa and dams are at dangerous level 1/3

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 2, 2015

We have monitored situation all night & held review meeting this morning. Another review meeting this evening 2/3

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 2, 2015

As reported by State government due to cyclone KOMEN, heavy to very heavy rainfall occurred at isolated places in almost all South West Bengal districts. So far, 12 districts consisting of 210 blocks and 9,691 villages have been affected due to floods. A population of 36,90,627 are affected.

State Government has deployed 121 boats for rescue and relief operations. A total of 5,672 cattle is also lost in the floods.
The State Government has set up 1,537 relief camps and 2,14,306 people have been accommodated, it said.

The army has carried rescue and relief operations in Jhawdanga village in Purbasthali Block 2 in Burdwan district from their base camp in Panagarh. At least 450 villagers have been evacuated from the village where river Bhagirathi had overflown. Burdwan District Magistrate has said to HT that 150 villagers were still stuck and army was rescuing them. 

Flash floods in various parts of WB due to heavy rains, normal life disrupted. (Visuals from Birbhum) pic.twitter.com/UozLbeNiSW

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 2, 2015

The worst affected districts are Burdwan, Murshidabad, West Midnapore, Howrah. Various rivers in Bengal had breached their embankments. Parts of Kolkata was waterlogged following the heavy rains

Manipur

Meanwhile, persistent rainfall over the past few days caused a massive landslide at Joumol village in Chandel district in Manipur on Saturday, killing at least 21 people. As per reports, the landslide led to the collapse of almost all houses in the Zoumul village under Khengjoi sub-division. According to HT two people including a 60-year old farmer died in Langmeidong and Rengkai.

The report adds that, areas in and around capital Imphal and its outskirts were submerged.

“A team of Assam Rifles have reached the spot (Joumol village) today with the help of a helicopter and carrying out search and rescue operation,” an official source said to HT. Several hundreds living near riverbanks were being moved to a safer location. 

Moreh, a commercial town near the Indo-Myanmar border was cut-off from Imphal following a landslide. Several villages in Ukhrul district too were cut-off from the rest of the state.

Responding to the situation, the state Irrigation and Flood Control Department has reportedly opened one control room with the number 0385-2451550 in Imphal. Centre directed NDRF to move forces to Manipur for rescue and relief operations in the landslide-affected areas.

Odisha

Ten villages were marooned in Odisha and a total of five people lost their lives and while 644 villages and population 4,80,399 are affected. "All the major rivers in the state are flowing below the danger level. However, inflow of rain water from West Bengal, where heavy rainfall occurred under the effect of cyclonic system Komen, has caused marooning of some more villages in Balasore district," special relief commissioner GVV Sarma said to HT.

Khenjoy (Manipur) landslide: 21 dead, many feared trapped; rescue operations underway (Spot visuals) pic.twitter.com/fGrsmWWa88

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 2, 2015

House collapsed in Chandel, Manipur due to flash floods. https://t.co/FMPfcvgnMl

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 2, 2015

ODRAF units are carrying out relief and rescue operations.

So far 1574 people have been evacuated to safer places. Seven relief camps have been opened and 55 people have been accommodated. 132 boats have been deployed for rescue operations.

Myanmar

In Myanmar, 15 have been killed due to the floods and 1,50,000 people have been affected. Four districts in central and western have been declared as 'national disaster-affected regions'.

Many are sheltered in monasteries. The rescue operations remain hampered due to the floods.

With inputs from Pooja Mehta and agencies