Kolkata, 16 July (H.S.) -
In response to the worsening flood-like situation in several districts of South Bengal due to heavy rainfall and water released from the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has assigned senior bureaucrats to lead coordinated relief and rehabilitation efforts on the ground.
Following a high-level meeting at the state secretariat on Wednesday, Banerjee directed the administration to remain alert and initiate immediate relief measures. The state government has identified Paschim Medinipur, Purba Bardhaman, Birbhum, and Hooghly as the most affected districts, with each now assigned a dedicated team of senior officers.
In Paschim Medinipur, where widespread waterlogging has disrupted daily life, a four-member team has been deployed. This includes Surendra Gupta, Secretary of the Public Health and Engineering Department; Priyanka Singh, Senior Special Secretary of the Disaster Management Department; Yunus Ismail, Special Secretary of the Health Department; and Hrishikesh Modi, Special Commissioner of the Agriculture Department. Their responsibilities include ensuring clean drinking water, delivering relief supplies, maintaining healthcare services, and managing other critical infrastructure.
In Purba Bardhaman, fears of potential breaches in embankments have prompted the government to assign Neelam Meena, Secretary of the Consumer Affairs Department, and Vibhu Goyal, Director of the Land Records Department. With rising river levels posing a serious threat, the officials will oversee real-time monitoring and emergency responses in affected areas.
In Birbhum, where overflowing rivers and canals have flooded villages, Vandana Yadav, Secretary of the Industry Department, and Deviprasad Karanam, Secretary of the Finance Department, have been tasked with managing rescue and rehabilitation efforts. The focus will remain on evacuation, shelter management, and provision of essentials.
In Hooghly, Vinod Kumar, Secretary of the Education Department, and Abhishek Kumar Tiwari, Managing Director of the Tourism Corporation, have been appointed to supervise relief operations. Their mandate includes assessing flood impact on schools and tourist locations, with contingency plans to convert educational institutions into temporary relief shelters if required.
To streamline communication and coordination, the state has activated a round-the-clock control room. This unit is receiving situation reports from all districts and relaying them to the Chief Minister’s Office for real-time updates. Citizens have been urged to report waterlogging or distress situations to their local Block Development Officers or district helplines.
Administrative officials believe the swift deployment of resources has helped stabilize the situation to a significant extent. However, the government remains on high alert, especially if rainfall continues or more water is released from upstream reservoirs.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
