Flash flood deaths: TMC-BJP war of words over safety measures; PM, CM announce ex gratia
The Hindu
PM Modi and W.B. CM Mamata Banerjee announced ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the incident
The death of eight people in the flash flood in Mal river in Jalpaiguri during immersion of Durga idols triggered a war of words on October 10 between the TMC and BJP, which accused the administration of not taking adequate safety measures.
The ruling TMC discarded the allegations as baseless and urged the saffron camp to stop its "vulture politics" of trying to politicise even accidents in the State.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the incident. Each of them also announced ₹50,000 to the injured.
The incident took place around 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday when hundreds of people gathered on the banks of the Mal river to participate in the immersion ceremony on Vijaya Dashami.
"₹2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each of the deceased in the tragic mishap during Durga Puja festivities in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. The injured would be given ₹50,000," the Prime Minister's Office said in a tweet.
The Chief Minister said about 70 people have been rescued and 13 people are undergoing treatment at the Mal super specialty hospital after the flash flood on Wednesday night.
"A tragic flash flood hit the Mal River in Jalpaiguri as Durga Visarjan was underway. Eight people lost their lives, I pray that their families find strength and solace in these difficult times," Ms. Banerjee tweeted.
In 2021, five women from Mayithara, four of them MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) workers, found a common ground in their desire to create a sustainable livelihood by growing vegetables. Rajamma M., Mary Varkey, Valsala L., Elisho S., and Praseeda Sumesh, aged between 70 and 39, pooled their savings, rented a piece of land and began their collective vegetable farming journey under the Deepam Krishi group.