National

Relief yet to reach flood-hit

Narayangarh: Relief supplies remained a distant dream for over 50,000 flood-affected people marooned in 16 villages in Narayangarh block of Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal on Thursday, even after three days of flood fury in large parts of the district.

“We were trapped in our village for three whole days before the military speedboat rescued us,” said Rebati, a resident of Amdiya village.

All mud houses in her village were washed away and villagers took shelter in three brick buildings.

“We have not received any relief material and the children and elderly are starving,” she said.

An Army official said the relief materials were not adequate.

However, the Defence Ministry spokesperson in Kolkata, Group Captain R.K.Das said: “Though there had been initial glitches on part of the administration, the situation is normal now with adequate relief material being released for distribution.”

In the absence of government aid, local club members and political party workers were arranging for relief. They donated rice, dry food packets and mineral water.

Local leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Madan Bose said: “We have set up 150 camps in various places where around 30,000 people have been sheltered.”

Even though speedboats belonging to the Army were pressed into service, villages in blocks such as Jatiya, Khalina and Hemchandrapur have remained completely cut off, as rescue teams are not able to reach there.

Of the eight speedboats pressed into service, one remained non-functional.

Airdropping of food-packets by Air Force helicopters is expected to ease the problem to some extent.

Block Development Officer of Narayangarh Nivedita Mondal said: “We have not yet received any papers regarding the allotment of relief fund announced by the Chief Minister on Wednesday.”

She said the water levels were receding at many places and arrangements were being made to reach these places by foot on Friday.

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