BackCentre rushes 2,500 troops for relief work in cyclone hit West Bengal
Centre rushes 2,500 troops for relief work in cyclone hit West Bengal
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New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday dispatched 2500 personnel of the central paramilitary forces to assist in the relief and rescue operations in cyclone hit areas of West Bengal.
“We have rushed 25 companies of CRPF, BSF and RPF to help in the aid and rescue operations in the cyclone hit areas of West Bengal," a home ministry official said.
The home ministry is in constant touch with the state governments and ready to provide more help if required by the two states, the official said.
“We are monitoring the situation closely. It is improving and things are settling down now," the official said.
The Centre had already dispatched 200 personnel of the riverine units of BSF based in Sundarbans, West Bengal. About 1000 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force have also been pressed into relief operations.
Some of the forces have already reached the spot to help local authorities in rescue operations.
“NDRF and BSF officials are in constant touch with relief commissioners of West Bengal. We are very prepared and ready to meet any situation," Union home minister Chidambaram had said on Monday.
Monday’s storm ripped through Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Burdwan and East Midnapore affecting a population of 22.3 lakh and killing 64 people.
61,000 houses have been destroyed, 132,000 houses damaged, 41,000 people have taken shelter in relief camps, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore are the worst affected districts, said the chief secretary.
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