Death toll in West Bengal rains goes up to 47

Major rivers in State continue to flow above red mark

IN DEEP WATER: Villagers wade through floodwaters at Baharal village in Malda district of West Bengal on Saturday.

The rain-related death toll in West Bengal climbed to 47 even as major rivers continued to flow above the red mark and new areas were flooded.

The floods have affected 29.6 lakh people in 15 districts covering 251 blocks. Nine new areas have got inundated, a government release said. Over 1,66,219 houses have been damaged in the rains and the consequent floods.

Relief

While relief camps were being run in the flood-affected districts by the State government as well as the various relief agencies, including the Ramakrishna Mission, the Animal Resource Development Department has opened cattle camps for treating and vaccinating livestock. Mobile water treatment plants were being run by the Public Health Engineering Department while the Health and Family Welfare Department was taking action to guard against the spread of any water-borne diseases.