CM Mamata Banerjee conducted a high-level review of flood relief operations in Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, and Jalpaiguri, three of the most severely affected districts in North Bengal. The review, held after weeks of relentless rainfall and heavy river swelling, marked a major step in assessing damage and accelerating recovery for thousands of families displaced by the flood.
Officials from all three districts joined the meeting via video link, providing updates on embankment breaches, damaged bridges, crop loss, and disrupted connectivity. Mamata Banerjee directed administrative heads to focus on immediate relief, prevention of waterborne diseases, and rebuilding key infrastructure like roads, culverts, and embankments that have been washed away in the floods.
Flood Impact Overview Across the Districts
Alipurduar: Embankments Breached and Homes Destroyed
The floodwaters caused widespread damage in Salkumar, Kalchini, and Kumargram blocks of Alipurduar. The Torsha, Rydak, and Raidak rivers overflowed, breaching embankments and inundating vast stretches of farmland. District officials informed that over 450 homes were severely affected, and many families have been living in temporary shelters.
Chief Minister Banerjee instructed that every displaced family must receive food, clean water, and tarpaulins without delay. She also emphasized that beneficiaries under the Banglar Bari housing scheme should be prioritized for permanent housing reconstruction.
To assist victims who lost personal documents like Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, or land deeds, the administration has deployed mobile documentation vans that allow people to file General Diaries (GDs) on the spot and begin re-issuance processes.
Cooch Behar: Relief Camps and Medical Support Intensified
Cooch Behar’s low-lying areas, especially Dinhata, Tufanganj, and Mathabhanga, remain waterlogged due to continuous rainfall and poor drainage. Mamata Banerjee directed the district authorities to expand medical relief camps and rapid response health teams to curb outbreaks of diarrhea and skin infections.
Local police and civic volunteers have been assisting families in filing reports for lost ID cards and land records, ensuring that no person is denied access to rations or government benefits. Banerjee instructed that special camps under the ‘Amader Para, Amader Samadhan’ initiative must be operational in every affected block.
Jalpaiguri: Bridge Collapse and Wildlife Threats
In Jalpaiguri, officials reported that 51 bridges under panchayat and zilla parishad jurisdiction were damaged, disrupting rural connectivity. The Chief Minister ordered the Public Works Department (PWD) to conduct a comprehensive structural audit of all affected bridges and roads.
She also raised concern over wildlife displacement as floodwaters forced elephants and other animals from forest zones into nearby villages. Banerjee instructed the Forest Department to intensify monitoring and establish coordination cells to avoid human-wildlife conflict during the recovery phase.
CM Mamata Banerjee Key Directives
- Prevent Disease Outbreaks:
Mamata Banerjee emphasized proactive health surveillance in flood-affected zones. She directed district health officers to deploy mobile units with doctors, paramedics, and essential medicines to prevent waterborne infections. - Restore Infrastructure Quickly:
The Chief Minister asked the PWD and Zilla Parishads to prioritize repair of bridges, culverts, and approach roads to ensure uninterrupted transport of relief materials. - Document Recovery Assistance:
Recognizing that many people lost identification and property papers in the floods, Banerjee instructed that mobile GD and e-service camps be maintained for the next several weeks to restore access to essential government schemes. - Relief Supply Continuity:
Banerjee ordered uninterrupted distribution of rice, drinking water pouches, and tarpaulins across relief shelters, especially in isolated and tribal villages. - Wildlife Protection Measures:
Forest officials have been tasked with ensuring animal rescue operations and deploying watchtowers to monitor movement near human settlements.
Challenges on Ground
Despite administrative coordination, several challenges persist:
- Floodwaters continue to submerge villages in Tufanganj and Kumargram, limiting access for relief teams.
- Many rural households report loss of livestock and agricultural tools, which will take months to recover.
- Medical teams face difficulties reaching remote panchayats due to broken culverts.
- The risk of malaria and dengue outbreaks looms, prompting the Health Department to begin door-to-door awareness drives.
Political and Administrative Context
The North Bengal floods have drawn national attention. While the state administration has moved swiftly, opposition parties have alleged lapses in embankment maintenance. Mamata Banerjee, however, reaffirmed that “no one will be left behind” and that the state government is mobilizing its full strength to aid affected families.
Banerjee has also renewed calls for better coordination with Bhutan to regulate trans-boundary river releases that contribute to sudden flooding in the Dooars and foothill regions. She urged for a joint Indo-Bhutan Flood Control Committee to manage river discharge and sedimentation issues.
Relief and Rehabilitation Measures
The government outlined a phased action plan for rebuilding:
Short-Term (0-30 Days):
- Supply of food and medicines through mobile relief units.
- Setting up of temporary shelters in schools and community halls.
- Immediate repair of broken embankments using sandbags and geo-textile materials.
Mid-Term (1-3 Months):
- Reconstruction of damaged rural roads and culverts.
- Re-evaluation of flood-prone zones with new drainage maps.
- Compensation to affected farmers under the Krishak Bandhu scheme.
Long-Term (3-6 Months):
- Permanent embankment strengthening under Irrigation Department supervision.
- Construction of elevated flood shelters for future emergencies.
- Review of disaster preparedness protocols with NDMA and state agencies.
Citizen Voices and Human Stories
Many residents have spoken of the devastating toll the floods have taken on their lives. Families in Alipurduar’s Chilapata area reported losing both homes and cattle. Women in Jalpaiguri’s Maynaguri block said that access to sanitary kits and baby food remains a challenge. In Cooch Behar, volunteers continue to ferry relief packages via small boats in areas where roads are impassable.
A local resident in Falakata said, “We are thankful that the administration is here every day. The camps are helping us get our papers reissued. But we hope the embankments are rebuilt strongly this time so we don’t suffer again next year.”
Environmental and Climate Dimensions
Experts note that climate variability and erratic rainfall patterns are aggravating flood frequency in North Bengal. The Irrigation and Waterways Department has been asked to develop a long-term flood management blueprint that integrates real-time weather forecasting, river dredging, and afforestation along vulnerable stretches.
Forest and environment experts are also urging the government to adopt eco-engineering embankments—using natural vegetation barriers instead of only concrete—to reduce erosion and improve biodiversity in flood zones.
Monitoring and Accountability
Mamata Banerjee has directed that district magistrates must submit weekly status reports on:
- Relief distribution
- Embankment repair progress
- Health department activities
- Pending compensation cases
She also announced that officers and staff who displayed exemplary courage during the floods would be publicly recognized in upcoming administrative events.
External Government Links
For readers seeking verified updates or official assistance related to the flood situation:
- Government of West Bengal – Disaster Management & Civil Defence Department: https://wb.gov.in/departments/dmcd.aspx
- National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): https://ndma.gov.in/
- West Bengal Forest Department: http://forest.westbengal.gov.in/
- Public Works Department (PWD) – West Bengal: https://pwdwb.in/
- Irrigation & Waterways Department – Government of West Bengal: https://wbiwd.gov.in/
Conclusion: Leadership Amid Crisis
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s flood review marks a crucial step in Bengal’s ongoing disaster response framework. With her insistence on rapid relief, document recovery, health protection, and bridge reconstruction, the state has moved toward a more holistic approach to flood management.
The true test, however, lies in ensuring long-term resilience—so that rural Bengal can withstand future climate shocks without repeating the same devastation. Her call to “prevent waterborne disease at any cost” captures the urgency of the moment and the empathy expected of governance in times of crisis.
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