Heavy rain cripples South West Bengal, India

Bahrain Tribune

Kolkata (IANS)
The death toll from three days of incessant rainfall in southern West Bengal touched 10 with a youth dying of electrocution in Kolkata yesterday afternoon, even as the districts reeled under a flood-like situation despite a let-up in the downpour.
The police said a youth died at Ultadanga in north Kolkata after he came in contact with a live electric wire, which had got detached from its post and fell into a waterlogged area.
Many low-lying areas in southern, central and north Kolkata went under knee-deep water, while adjoining districts, Howrah, Hooghly and East Midnapore are threatened with flood situation with the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) releasing huge volume of rainwater from the Panchet and Mithan dams.
Official sources said the DVC is releasing 350,000 cusec of water to reduce pressure on its dams. According to media reports, the situation in Burdwan, Birbhum and Hooghly districts also worsened after DVC released its water. The Damodar and Ajoy rivers are flowing above the danger level.
About 40,000 people have been affected in the deluge in southern Bengal. The West Bengal government has sanctioned Rs. 80 million for relief to the flood-affected people in the state.
Meanwhile, Alipur met officials said there was no further forecast of heavy rain in the state. A low-pressure belt, which intensified into a depression over west central Bay of Bengal, which caused the downpour, moved towards Madhya Pradesh yesterday. The met office however predicted some more light to medium rainfall in Kolkata and its neighbouring district, in the next 48-hours.
Train services had virtually collapsed in Howrah and Sealdah divisions.