Boat carrying Trinamool MPs, MLAs overturns in Bengal’s Birbhum

At least 13 people, including Trinamool Congress MPs, MLAs, and high-ranking officials, had a narrow escape on Wednesday when their board overturned while inspecting flood-affected areas in West Bengal’s Birbhum district.
The incident happened when TMC MLA from Labpur, Abhijit Singh, party MPs, Asit Mal and Shamirul Islam, along with Birbhum’s District Magistrate, Bidhan Roy, and other officials were on a boat inspecting the flood-affected areas of Birbhum’s Balarampur and Labpur.
After the incident, the locals rushed to the spot and rescued the Trinamool MPs and local officials, who were not wearing any safety jackets.
Several districts in West Bengal have been witnessing a flood-like situation following heavy rain and a consequent rise in water discharge from barrages within a short period.
According to state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s advisor, Alapan Bandyopadhyay, at least two people have died as the flood-like situation in several districts in the southern part of West Bengal remains grim following heavy rain and consequent rise in water discharge from barrages within a short span of time.
Parts of Birbhum, Bankura, Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Paschim Bardhaman districts are inundated, Bandyopadhyay said.
Due to heavy rainfall, 1,33,750 Cusec of water was released from Durgapur Barrage, 40,000 cusec from Kangsabati dam, 2,00,000 cusec from Maithon dam and 50,000 cusec from the Panchet Dam in the last 24 hours.