Rain fury brings misery across northeastern and eastern states, lakhs affected

New Delhi: Heavy rains continue to wreak havoc in the northeastern and eastern states with death toll increasing and many areas cut off. Manipur, Odisha and West Bengal are the worst affected states.

In West Bengal, floodwaters have washed away National Highway 60 and destroyed many connecting roads to West Midnapore district. It has been raining heavily in south Bengal after Cyclone Komen made landfall in neighbouring Bangladesh last week.

At least 39 people have been killed and 7 lakh others were affected by the rains in districts like Howrah, South 24 Parganas and Midnapore. Several parts of Kolkata is still under knee-deep water.

In the neighbouring states of Odisha and Jharkhand, the situation is no different. Over 4 lakh people have been marooned due to massive floods in Odisha.

The Met department said the flood situation has been aggravated by Cyclone Komen. Water from Bangladesh has entered North Odisha and inundated about 20 villages. The situation has turned worse due to heavy rainfall.

Jharkhand is also reeling from the after effects of Cyclone Komen. There has been heavy rainfall in the state in the last 36 hours. Many rivers across the state have reached their danger mark and are overflowing.

Reports suggested that people are being stranded in some districts. High speed winds are also not helping the situation in the state where authorities are closely monitoring the situation.

In Manipur, 20 people were killed in a landslide triggered by heavy incessant rain at Zoumoal village in Chandel district. Superintendent of Police of Chandel district Herojit Singh said 20 people were killed in the landslide at the village under Khangbarol sub-division of the district.

Due to excessive rains key highways have been cut off, villages have drowned under heavy water leading to thousands rendered homeless.

Heavy rains have also triggered a landslide in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh on Saturday. Flash floods have killed four people in the district so far. There has been massive damage to property and several cattle have been killed.

Locals said financial help from the state government has been scarce with only a few thousand rupees being given to those affected.