After seven people lost their lives due to electrocution following heavy rainfall in Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday expressed her grief over the deaths and said that she has never witnessed a torrential rain like this.
Mamata announced that the kins of the deceased persons must all be given jobs by the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation Limited (CESC Ltd). The Chief Minister slammed the CESC for poor management and accused it of not modernizing the facilities to avoid such accidents.
She stated that she felt bad for the people who have lost their lives while adding that she has given a holiday today and tomorrow for offices and schools. She urged the private offices to allow the employees to take a leave in the wake of heavy rainfall and waterlogging.
The Chief Minister said, “I heard 7-8 people have died due to electrocution. It is so unfortunate that people have lost their lives. Their families must all be given jobs by the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation Limited (CESC Ltd), I am saying this clearly. We will also do whatever is possible to help. Even our houses are submerged; we are all suffering.”
She added, “I am feeling so bad for the Pujo pandals as well. Is this not the duty of the CESC to be more mindful? Electricity is supplied by CESC, not us. It is their duty to ensure people do not suffer because of this. They will do business here, but not modernize here? They should send people to the field and fix this.”
The Chief Minister said that she was closely monitoring the situation and is in touch with police as well as the Chief Secretary. She stated that she is in constant touch with the Mayor, Chief Secretary, and the police to take stock of the situation.
“This time, the rain is slightly unusual,” Banerjee said, expressing surprise.
Blaming the Centre for waterlogging issues in West Bengal, she further said, “There will be more waterlogging. There is high tide in the Ganga river from Mahalaya. Where will we pump out the water? There is no place to go, it will again have to go to the Ganga only. Where will we send this water, it is full of Bihar and UP’s water. I would implore all private sector workers to also not come to work, calamities affect all equally.”
“The Centre has cut our money through GST, and all our funds are going to deal with these calamities,” she alleged.
The West Bengal Education Department has declared school holidays due to the heavy rainfall forecast in West Bengal for the next two days. Additionally, government-sponsored primary, upper primary, and higher secondary schools have also been requested to remain closed. Meanwhile, operations at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport were severely affected on Tuesday as bad weather led to the cancellation of 30 flights and delays to 42 others, according to a Kolkata Airport official.