West Bengal govt alerts districts as dams overflow

With massive flow of water from different dams scheduled by tonight, the West Bengal government has alerted East and West Midnapore districts, evacuated 1,200 people in relief camps and asked those living in low-lying districts to shift to safer places.

Irrigation Minister Manas Bhuinya said 82,000 cusec of water is scheduled to be released from Galudi barrage over Kangsabati river by tonight while 62,000 cusec would be discharged from Durgapur barrage and another 20,000 cusec from Kangsabati barrage.

A report in this regard had been submitted by him to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bhuniya said.

The minister said he has sent a letter to Union Water Resources Minister Pawan Bansal requesting a tripartite meeting involving West Bengal government, neighbouring state governments as well as the Centre to work out a mechanism of release of water from Galudi and Chandil dams so that adequate precautionary measures could be taken.