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Bengal flood toll touches 597, many bodies undiscovered

Rifat Jawaid in Calcutta

The death toll in the West Bengal floods has risen to 597, with 273 persons still reported missing.

The state relief ministry has said the toll is likely to go up further, since many dead bodies could still be submerged and will be discovered only after the flood waters recede.

The state government has also issued a fresh warning to the Calcutta Municipal Corporation and the police, asking them to remain on high alert as high tide in the Hooghly threatened to overrun a large part of Calcutta on Thursday.

Speaking to rediff.com, the chief relief secretary, B S Ingty, said Thursday's tide may go up to 6.4 metres in height.

"The bad news for Calcuttans is that there will not be any respite from floods because of high tides in the Hooghly. They will continue till September 30. On September 29, the tide will begin at 0149 hrs IST but the highest tide will be experienced at 1352 hrs IST when it touches 6.6 metres. However, I am hopeful things will be somewhat better after Saturday,'' Ingty added.

Thursday's high tide is likely to inundate Garden Reach, Iqbalpur, Tollygunge, Kalighat in south Calcutta and the areas around Kestopur canal, Nimtola Ghat and BT Road in north Calcutta. The Calcutta Electricity Supply Corporation has been asked to ensure an uninterrupted supply of power in the waterlogged areas.

Many low-lying areas of Calcutta were submerged on Wednesday night after the Hooghly experienced over six metres of high tide. Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee's Kalighat residence on the banks of Tolly canal, too wasn't spared; it remained in knee-deep water till Thursday morning.

The sudden deluge has also witnessed a sharp surge in the prices of vegetables and other essential items. Green chillies cost Rs 130 a kg, onions, brinjal and ginger sold at Rs 25, Rs 20 and Rs 135 respectively. Fearing public backlash, the state food supply ministry has warned the black marketeers of dire consequences.

Meanwhile, rail services have resumed in the state. An Eastern Railway official told rediff.com that barring the Calcutta-New Jalpaiguri route, long distance trains were running on schedule from Thursday morning. The railway's priority was to restore the twisted tracks on the Howrah-Birbhoom line which have been damaged badly in the heavy flow of water, he said.

EARLIER REPORTS:
WB govt deliberately caused floods: Mamata: PTI
Sonia to visit flood-hit Bengal on Thursday
High tide alert in parts of Calcutta
Flood toll rises to 516, waters enter Calcutta: PTI
Centre lacks will-power: Mukherjee
Flood toll rises to 450

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