'Bengal floods man-made disaster': Mamata Banerjee takes stock of situation
Kolkata/IBNS: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday visited flood-hit areas in Hooghly and other parts of South Bengal which is facing a severe flood situation following the release of water from dams upstream in Jharkhand.
Banerjee accused the Damodar Valley Corporation of being responsible for the flood situation.
"The Central government's DVC and Jharkhand's Tenughat and Panchet released water into Bengal to save their state," Banerjee said.
Stating that lakhs of people have been affected by floods, the CM told reporters: "Look at the flow and speed of the water. Everything will go underwater at any time."
Smt. @MamataOfficial takes account of the situation in the face of severe flooding across Bengal.
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) September 18, 2024
In an unfortunate turn of events, DVC released a very high amount of water into Bengal causing this disaster.
GoWB stands to ensure the safety and well-being of the people in… pic.twitter.com/Jx0bjJPgUO
Ten districts in Bengal including Howrah, Hooghly, Birbhum, West Midnapore, East Midnapore, Jhargram, Bankura, Purulia, West Burdwan, and East Burdwan are facing the flood situation.
On Thursday, the Chief Minister is expected to visit the affected areas in West Midnapore district.
A deep depression over Gangetic West Bengal has led to heavy rains in southern parts of the state over the weekend and on Monday. Jharkhand also received heavy rains on Monday that prompted them to release excess water from dams.
The DVC released 90,000 cusecs of water on Monday night and 2.1 lakh cusecs on Tuesday.
Banerjee said she spoke to her Jharkhand counterpart on Monday.
"The DVC has released huge amounts of water this time. This was never seen before. Whenever Jharkhand receives heavy rainfall, the DVC always releases water to save Jharkhand. This is a man-made disaster," she told reporters.
In Bengal, district administrations have been asked to prepare flood shelters and stock adequate drinking water, medicines, and dry food.
"Flood-like situations may occur in the lower basin area of the Damodar valley due to heavy rains and release of excess water from dams and barrages... Senior officers have been posted in the districts to handle the situation... People from low-lying areas have been ordered," said Alapan Bandopadhyay, advisor to the Chief Minister.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari hit out at Mamata Banerjee and described her visit to the affected areas as a PR stunt.
In a post on social media platform X, he said, "CM Mamata Banerjee your ploy and strategy to shift blame is getting old and repetitive".
CM Mamata Banerjee your ploy and strategy to shift blame is getting old and repetitive. Every time around this time you utter these words - "Man made Flood" and try to hold the Central Govt, the Jharkhand Govt and the DVC responsible for floods in West Bengal.
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) September 18, 2024
However the truth… pic.twitter.com/sPlC70UkVg
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