Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Inspects Flood-Affected Areas in Hooghly District

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, September 18, 2024,Hooghly : On Wednesday afternoon, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the flood-affected regions of Arambagh and Purshura in Hooghly district, where heavy rainfall and inadequate management by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) have led to widespread inundation.

Recent low-pressure rains have submerged large areas of Hooghly and other parts of West Bengal, exacerbating the flood situation. During her visit, Chief Minister Banerjee assessed the damage and expressed her concerns over the deteriorating condition of the bridge over the Dwarkeshwar River in Purshura.

Addressing the media, Banerjee criticized the DVC for its handling of the water release, stating, “The situation is dire. The Center is drowning Bengal with its plans. They can hold back another 200,000 cusecs of water, yet they have never released so much water before. When the river is 70 percent full, why is the DVC not releasing water? How much more deprivation must Bengal endure?”

The Chief Minister also took the time to engage with local residents, many of whom have seen their homes and livelihoods devastated by the floods. Reports indicate that entire single-story houses in various parts of South Bengal are now underwater, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has already commenced rescue operations in the affected areas.

Banerjee highlighted the plight of the working-class families in Arambagh, emphasizing how the excessive water release has resulted in job losses for many. "The poor working people of Arambagh have suffered tremendously due to this flooding," she remarked.

Accompanying the Chief Minister were Arambagh MP Mithali Bagh, Hooghly Rural Police Superintendent Kanmashish Sen, and other local dignitaries, all of whom are committed to providing relief and support to those impacted by the disaster.

As rescue efforts continue, the state government is mobilizing resources to address the urgent needs of flood-affected communities, emphasizing the need for better management and accountability from the DVC to prevent future tragedies.