At least seven people have died and almost 250,000 have been displaced in the Indian state of West Bengal due to floods triggered by ongoing heavy rains.
Areas in six districts of the state -- West Bardhaman, East Bardhaman, West Medinipur, Hooghly, Howrah, and South 24 Parganas -- were worst affected after water was released from the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) dams.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is conducting relief and rescue work in the state. On Monday, the Indian Army and the Air Force were pressed into action to rescue people stuck on rooftops. Helicopters were deployed to drop emergency kits, including food and drinking water.
During a cabinet meeting earlier this week, West Bengal State Chief Mamata Banerjee directed all the ministers to be present at their districts and oversee the rescue operations.
"The situation is pretty bad. But we are doing everything in our capacity to save our citizens. Over 100,000 tarpaulins, 1,000 metric tonnes of rice, drinking water and clothes have been sent to the affected areas. Relief camps have been set up in every block," a West Bengal government official told Sputnik on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted more downpours in the state over the next three days.
In the western state of Maharashtra, over 200 persons died last month due to heavy flooding in 13 districts.