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29 killed as Bengal floods worsen

Twenty-nine persons were killed and nearly 4.3 million people were affected as rains inundated new areas in five districts of south Bengal with the state government calling in more army columns for relief and rescue operations.

Birbhum accounted for 18 deaths, Burdwan eight and Nadia three while no information was received from Murshidabad district, which remained cut off save for police wireless, Deputy Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee told reporters.

The casualties in the floods were due to house collapse, boat capsize and snake bite, he said.

District Magistrate Swami Singh told reporters in Bardhaman that of the eight deaths in the district, four occurred in a wall collapse while four others drowned.

A population of 2 million in 22 blocs had been affected and 30,000 kutcha houses had been damaged.

The Bhagirathi, Ajoy, Banka and Khori rivers and rivulets were flowing near to the extreme danger levels, he said.

In Murshidabad, the swollen Bhagirathi inundated almost half of Baharampur town.

"I cannot say that the situation has improved... if it goes on like this, things can further deteriorate," Bhattacharjee said.

He said three army columns had been pressed into service, one each in Birbhum, Murshidabad and Bardhaman districts. "Another column has been sought," he added.

Airdropping of food packets in the affected districts was hampered on Wednesday by bad weather. An army helicopter took off from Purnea in Bihar to aid relief operations, but was forced to return owing to bad weather, he said.

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