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39 killed in heavy rains in West Bengal

by IBNS 01 Aug 2015, 12:20 am

Kolkata, Aug 1 (IBNS) At least 39 people have been killed as heavy rain, triggered by a deep depression off the Bay of Bengal, continues to lash West Bengal resulting in a flood like situation, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Saturday.

She said the situation is  more pronounced in the southern part of the state as about 33,000 people have been  shifted to 700 relief camps.

"About  2 lakh hectares of land have been submerged in the state.The government will distribute 5 lakh pouches of drinking water in waterlogged areas," she said.

However, no loss of life has been reported from Kolkata that continues to receive heavy rainfall since Friday. The overnight rainfall left many areas of the city waterlogged resulting in severe disruption of vehicular movement.

 According to the regional weather office, Kolkata received 117.4 mm of rain till 8.30 am.

The rain is said to have been triggered under the impact of cyclone Komen that hit Bangladesh on Friday.

The regional weather office has said that the rain was likely to continue in the area for the next 48 hours