Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed concern over potential floods in north Bengal due to heavy rains and instructed officials to continuously monitor the situation.
Banerjee asked officials to take steps to bring back stranded tourists from neighbouring Sikkim and in remote hills areas of Kalimpong and Darjeeling owing to landslides.
“Round-the-clock monitoring of the situation has to be ensured,” Banerjee said, addressing a press conference on the flood-like situation in north Bengal owing to incessant rains in several places in the region.
Some of the measures adopted are as follows:
- The chief minister said nine flood shelters have been opened in Jalpaiguri providing shelter to 500 people.
- Power department to take preventive steps to prevent electrocution during floods.
- Caution needs to be taken in case there are instances of electricity poles being uprooted. If an electricity pole gets uprooted or tilted, then immediate measures need to be taken immediately.
- Officials of three railway zones — eastern, south eastern and north frontier — along with Metro railway to discuss ways to improve the drainage system and reduce waterlogging.
- Over 10 community kitchens have opened in Tufanganj and Mathabhanga areas of Cooch Behar.
Moreover, stating that the arterial NH-10 was being repaired at places where damages occurred owing to rains, the CM said the situation in Darjeeling and Kalimpong was normal.
She asked PWD authorities to inform the Army in case there is any damage to the national highways in the hills, as these are used by the forces for movement to border areas.
Banerjee said that during the monsoon season, the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) should inform the state before releasing water from its dams in south Bengal.
“Problems arise if huge quantity of water is released at one go,” she said, maintaining that a staggered release of water from the dams will be helpful.
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