Kolkata, September 07: Nearly 1.5 lakh people were affected by storms and heavy rain in the southern districts of West Bengal, including areas severely affected by cyclone Aila three months ago. About 14,000 houses were destroyed.
The rain, accompanied by gales, was caused by a depression over the Bay of Bengal, officials said here on Sunday.
The State government has sanctioned Rs. 4 crore to provide relief,said Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta.
Tarpaulin sheets and clothes were also distributed. Embankments were breached at 19 places , he said.
Minister for Sunderbans Affairs Kanti Ganguly said that barring breaches in Kashipur village in South 24 Parganas district, all others had been plugged.
“The situation is completely under control,” Mr. Ganguly said.
Most breaches occurred recently were at places where embankments had been damaged after cyclone Aila, said Mohammad Shahid, Sub-Divisional Officer of Canning sub-division of one of the worst affected districts — South 24 Parganas.
—Agencies