Mamata conducted aerial survey of cyclone devastated areas of Bengal, announces ex gratia payment

Kakdwip (South 24 Parganas)/Kolkata, Nov 11 (HS): Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today conducted an aerial survey of the far flung coastal areas of South 24 Parganas district to see the results of extensive damage, caused by the severe cyclonic storm ‘Bul Bul’ which has so far claimed 11 lives including a fisherman whose trawler sunk at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal.

After conducting the aerial survey for nearly two hours this morning after cancelling her proposed tour of North Bengal from today, to see the extent of damage and devastation caused by ‘Bul Bul’ during its landfall in the coastal areas of several South Bengal districts, including South 24 Parganas, with an wind speed of over 120 km per hour on Saturday night, the Chief Minister held an Emergency administrative meeting with senior District officials at Kakdwip, about 60  km from Kolkata.

Besides taking stock of the damage, the loss of property and life in Kakdwip, Bakkhali and Sagar island areas, the Chief Minister also met large number of local people this afternoon to know their problems to assess the situation.

Before returning to Kolkata later this afternoon she also met the family members of 42 year old fisherman Sanjay Das whose body was found from a sunken trawler yesterday, and consoled his wife and their children at Kakdwip.

While announcing an ex gratia payment of Rs two lakhs to the next of kin of each the 11 deceased so far, she personally handed over the cheque to the wife of Das and promised her all help and assistance from the state government at the present hour of crisis.

The representatives of local Fishermen Association who called on her, blamed the owners of local fishing trawlers for such frequent accidents alleging that they did not allow the fishermen to get down or evacuate the boat even at such dangerous time, leading to the death of several such fishermen.

The Chief Minister gave them a patient hearing and asked the South 24 Parganas District Magistrate to look in to their allegation and send a report to her soon.

Meanwhile, as the weather became clear today, the extent of damage in all the coastal districts of the state after the severe cyclonic storm became evident with thousands of kuchha buildings and hutmets found to be completely destroyed.

Though no river bank was breached,thousands of trees and lamp posts were also uprooted and fell in large areas of both North and South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, Howrah and even Hooghly districts forcing the respective district authorities to swung into action for their immediate repair and removal at the earliest.

Of the 11 dead, the maximum number of five people including four women, had lost their lives in North 24 Parganas district, followed by three each in South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts, the official sources informed here today.

‘We are yet to get the full extent of the damage and the devastation’, the Chief Minister said and promised to remain with families of the victims with maximum assistance at all levels.

Later in twitter message she said, ‘I held a meeting at Kakdwip with administration to review relief and rehabilitation measures of the cyclone-affected people. I am also planning to visit the cyclone-affected areas of Basirhat of North 24-Parganas on 13 November’ for the same reason. The Chief Minister who cancelled her North Bengal visit, said.