Mamata Banerjee Plans August 5 Visits to Flood-Stricken Ghatal, Chandrakona and Arambag
She aims to evaluate relief operations after state leaders blamed dam water releases for worsening floods.
Overview
- A senior official said Banerjee will visit Arambag, Ghatal and Chandrakona on August 5 to assess flood damage before departing for Jhargram.
- Paschim Medinipur’s Ghatal sub-division has seen record monsoon deluges since June 18 that have displaced nearly 200,000 residents and prompted the opening of 15 relief camps.
- State Irrigation Minister Manas Bhunia described the rains as the heaviest in 26 years and the Ghatal floods as the worst since 1978.
- The West Bengal government has accused the Damodar Valley Corporation of unregulated water releases from its Jharkhand dams that intensified the flooding.
- Banerjee is scheduled to lead a ‘Bhasha Andolan’ rally in Jhargram on August 6 to bolster outreach to displaced communities.